That You're Part of This Place

Octopuses are one of the most complex and intelligent animals in the ocean. They can recognize individual human faces, solve problems- and remember the answers for months- and they experience pain and suffering. They are sentient beings and capable of forming ‘relationships’ with humans, as witnessed in the brilliant Academy Award- winning documentary ‘My Octopus Teacher’ (from which the title of this painting was taken). Octopuses have recently become an ethical flashpoint, as researchers are attempting commercial octopus farming- not good, as it will further deplete marine ecosystems and needlessly torment these most sensitive and intelligent invertebrates.