Trevor Yeung
Not a Fighter, But a Lover
Magician Space, Beijing

Known for employing ecological metaphors to explore the politics of power and emotion, Hong Kong artist Trevor Yeung took inspiration from the artificial breeding of betta fish (also known as Siamese fighting fish) for his latest solo exhibition, “Not a Fighter, But a Lover,” at Beijing’s Magician Space. By nature, the betta is territorial: males fight to the death, and for close to a millennia they have been bred for this purpose. Starting in the 1990s, they became popular as display fish, chiefly for their vibrant tails, and since then they have been spawned as “show bettas.” But are bettas still bettas if they are no longer able to fight? This sense of denatured ecology served as the narrative thread in Yeung’s exhibition about control and desire.

“Not a Fighter, But a Lover” was divided into three sections, each corresponding to the various stages in the life cycle of bettas. Throughout, Betta Tail (2024) sculptures referencing popular fighting fish varieties were displayed in different corners of the space. At first, their distinctive shapes and brilliant colors were captivating, but the oversized tails quickly appeared like uncanny forms of taxidermy. No longer raised for blood sport, bettas are objectified as decorative playthings and subjected to another kind of exploitation.