photo © Roger Bultot
Arriving at the art gallery early, they wandered unimpeded around the installation without having to dodge the crowd the exhibit would attract.
“What do you think he’s trying to portray, Geoff?”
“You mean you can’t see it?”
Gloria squinted at the work that looked like fishing nets suspended in mid-air. “I can see it but I don’t get it.”
“Wow. I thought it was obvious. The artist is showing women’s bodies. How they are soft, and supple, give pleasure, are of different sizes and shapes. Indispensible for giving life. And yet they’re strong and grounded. Beautiful.”
“Thanks. So I’m a fishing net.”
In response to Rochelle’s prompt for Friday Fictioneers and thanks to Roger Bultot for the photo prompt.
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
That made me smile
LikeLiked by 2 people
Smile is good. Thanks.
LikeLike
The unintended consequence of art…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Absolutely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Has she no romance in her soul?
LikeLiked by 2 people
It would seem not Sandra.
LikeLike
Ha ha! That would be my reaction too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking at it from both view points women and fishing nets have the same attributes only one begins life and the other ends it.
LikeLike
Very philosophical 🙂 Hence fishnet stockings to bring the two concepts together.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha. Good one.
LikeLike
I suppose it depends on your perspective. Once an artist creates and displays the creation, he/she loses all control of how people project their personalities upon it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right and it is the same for writers also. Each person brings to a piece their own views of the world, experiences and philosophies. Each piece will be different for all comers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A fair description perhaps? Good fun Irene.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think it is a fair description Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Irene,
It sounds like Geoff has the soul of an artist. Gloria’s a bit more pragmatic. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree with you Rochelle. Cheers Irene
LikeLike
Maybe being an empty shell of a fishing net is not a compliment either… the male eye of a female body is not always appreciated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or understood.
LikeLike
lol love it, well done … and look at the comments you’re getting 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kate. 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
my pleasure Irene
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! Eye of the beholder and all that… 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. Thanks Dale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. I hate these practical-types 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It probably has advantages at times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah! I love this. So very perceptive. Well written, Irene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Neel. Glad you are a man of sensitivity.
LikeLike
Makes me wonder as to what is more important to a happy relationship, honesty or tact?!
I loved the spontaneous and very real last line.
A beautiful take on the prompt, Irene.
LikeLiked by 2 people
* for a happy relationship. Sorry 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😄
LikeLike
My immediate response was to say honesty and then I started thinking – tact is important too. Can you be truthful in a tactful way.
Thanks for your comments Moon. Appreciated.
LikeLike
I can kind of see both viewpoints. Great dialogue! And I hope he meant what he said about women’s bodies 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both are possible and both probably have most of the same attributes. I’m sure he meant it. A romantic realist.
LikeLike
There are two ways to look at everything! Excellent.
Click to read my FriFic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
and probably three or four more.
LikeLike
She has the same opinion as me about such art.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many have that opinion. I find it quite beautiful but what it is who knows. Possibly it is fishing nets.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Killer punchline, Irene!
Geoff seems altogether too familiar with the pleasurable aspects of our bodies – I wonder how he knows so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Penny. I think Gloria might be responsible for his knowledge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah! I thought he might have been the type who strayed….I’m glad to hear otherwise!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a bit confused – who is speaking what lines? If Gloria is talking to Geoff in the first line of dialogue, who is saying the second line? I think I understand your story, but not sure I know who’s saying what. Is it Geoff at the end who thinks he’s being compared to a fishing net?
Art demands participation of the viewer, just as any audience brings personal experience and value to all creative works. It’s the risk creators take.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can see how you are confused. Gloria is speaking first asking Geoff a question.
second sentence Geoff responds. I should then have put Gloria squinted on a new line (which I will do now) before her next sentence. That should make it clearer. Let me know what you think.
Yes all creators take that risk including writers.
LikeLike
Very interesting interpretation of the exhibit… can’t say it makes much sense to me, though. But to each it says different things. that’s art.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes that is art whether the written word or visual.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me thinks this guy will never win and argument with her. lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are probably right Dawn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
love the last line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dan.
LikeLike
What a delightful read, Irene. Made me smile. along with all the comments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kelvin. Makes me glad to give you a smile.
LikeLike
Ha! Love this. Women as fishing nets. Good grief 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
In the eye of the beholder and all that…. Glad you loved it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a sneaking suspicion his attention is often focussed on that subject, that it comes so readily to mind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL.
LikeLike
Love his beautiful interpretation and how she smacks him straight down – funny! Nicely done
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lyn. Glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was a unique look at the photo. But that is the wonder of art. I liked the story very much
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m really glad you liked the story Susan.
LikeLike
Guess both arguments have their own merits. But I believe the lady might not have liked the guy’s interpretation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you could be right there.
LikeLike
I really liked the analogy and the story Irene 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dahlia. Glad that you enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it. Art is always in the eye of the beholder…or is that beauty. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps both. Glad you enjoyed it Sascha.
LikeLiked by 1 person