Austern

As soon as the firm muscle of the still-living animal is cut through, the mollusk inside reveals itself: it has a heart but no brain, yet it does have a stomach, intestines, and an anus. Perhaps this is why the oyster is at the center of erotic fantasies, embodying the essence of creatureliness. As such, it found its way into painting in the 16th century, ultimately experiencing a surge in popularity in the 19th century: before the oyster became a delicacy, it was cheap street food, a meal for the poor. Long before queer theory sought to fluidify the question of gender, this inconspicuous sea creature was already a master of gender fluidity: depending on the weather, oysters change their sex multiple times throughout their lives. Following the trail of this fascinating animal, Andreas Ammer visits fish markets, harbor taverns, and ships, only to always return to that one moment: the Oyster Conversion Experience, the life-changing encounter with this invisible sea creature, whose taste of the ocean he continually longs for. And to the question of how to tell the story of an animal that has lived far longer than humans but spends most of its time hidden between two shells.