Review of Night Octopus

an Oil painting by the artist Christian Hammer

The painting ‘Night Octopus’ is a meditation on memory and the way our experiences shape our perceptions. The reclaimed wood on which the painting is created serves as a metaphor for the way our memories are layered and imperfect, with traces of the past still visible beneath the surface. The ghostly imprints of past paintings represent the way our past experiences influence our present perceptions, even if they are not always consciously remembered.

The wood in this painting has lived many lives before it became a canvas for this artwork. It was once a living tree, growing and thriving in a forest. Then it was cut down and transformed into something new, perhaps a piece of furniture or a home.

After years of use, it was eventually discarded and reclaimed, finding new purpose as the substrate for this painting.

The octopus is a fascinating creature, with its eight arms and incredible intelligence.

In this painting, the octopus represents the complexity and mystery of the human mind. Its many arms symbolize the many thoughts, memories, and ideas that constantly swirl within our minds. The swirling patterns in the background represent the way these thoughts and memories often feel abstract and hard to grasp.

In a sense, our minds are like a vast ocean, with thoughts and memories like currents and waves. The octopus in the painting is like a guide through this ocean of the mind, helping us to navigate and make sense of it all.

The purpose of this painting is to remind us that our minds are a rich and complex place, full of possibility and wonder. The octopus and the swirling patterns represent the mystery and fluidity of thought, while the reclaimed wood speaks to the endurance of the human spirit. This piece is an invitation to explore our inner worlds, and to find beauty and meaning in the depths of our own minds.