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The Big Fish

The Big Fish is one of Belfast, Northern Ireland’s best-known landmarks. Created in 1999, the sculpture is about 10 metres long and was made by contemporary artist John Kindness as part of the Laganside project. It was installed to mark the legend that a salmon was once caught here, even though it had never lived in the River Lagan. The fish is covered in ceramic tiles featuring images connected to Belfast’s history, and it also contains a time capsule with information about the city.

The Big Fish mosaic sculpture on a waterfront promenade beside the river in Belfast.
The Big Fish sculpture stands on the riverside promenade in central Belfast.
September 2020 © · CC0
The Big Fish sculpture covered in blue and white ceramic tiles with printed text and images.
The Big Fish, a large tiled sculpture, seen from a low angle on a stone-paved surface.
April 2011 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Big Fish sculpture covered in blue and white mosaic tiles, lit up at night on a waterfront plaza.
The Big Fish sculpture glows under ground lights on Belfast’s waterfront plaza at night.
December 2007 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Big Fish sculpture in Belfast lit by ground-level lights at night.
The Big Fish sculpture in Belfast illuminated after dark.
October 2007 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
Close-up of the Big Fish sculpture’s blue and white mosaic scales with illustrations and text fragments
Detail of the Big Fish in Belfast, showing its patterned mosaic scales.
July 2007 © · CC BY-SA 2.0

Identification

TitleThe Big Fish
Alternative namesthe Salmon of Knowledge; Pat The Fish
Typeprinted ceramic mosaic sculpture

Historical context

Year created1999
ProjectLaganside project
PurposeInstalled to celebrate the regeneration of the River Lagan and in honor of the legend that a salmon was caught here, even though it never lived in the River Lagan

Creator

ArtistJohn Kindness

Discovery and provenance

Commissioning and fundingCommissioned by the Laganside Corporation, with funding from the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Location and ownership

Depicted in tourism materialIts image appears on tourism material related to Belfast and Northern Ireland
Current locationDonegall Quay, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Nearby landmarksthe Lagan Lookout and Custom House
Site significanceThe site is where the River Farset meets the River Lagan; Belfast is named after the River Farset

Physical characteristics

Approximate lengthabout 10 m

Materials

Materialceramic tiles

Appearance

Historical range representedFrom Tudor times to present-day newspaper headlines
Contributions includedContributions from Belfast school children, including a soldier and an Ulster Fry
Source of historic imagesThe Ulster Museum
Additional image contributorsLocal schools and day centres along the line of the River Farset; requested drawings from Glenwood Primary School, St Comgalls, and Everton Day Centres
Scale interpretationAccording to Belfast City Council, each scale tells a story about the city
Reference in namePat The Fish refers to visitors from Orkney, Scotland patting the fish for good luck
Contains time capsuleYes
Time capsule contentsInformation, images, and poetry on the city
DecorationTexts and images relating to the history of Belfast

Iconography and meaning

Commemorative meaningInstalled in honor of the legend that a salmon was caught here, even though it never lived in the River Lagan

Significance

NotabilityOne of the most famous landmarks of Belfast