Vickipages

Over the past 2 years I have been pushing my ‘Octo-Camo’ series. From different color Octos. to a wide variety of patterns. I have tried to accomplish the power of subject and pattern. In reality my whole concept is in fact  behind its three basic themes(Character, Pattern and Object).
At first I started to create this Octopus character at the time, nameless. This was a challenge because I felt the name would have taken away from the character.  The Octopus was selected and built on the  inspiration of our everyday human instincts. Perhaps our most important… Survival. I chose an Octopus because of its physical characteristic. Which were its 8 Tentacles. For me the Octopus represented a dominance and the tentacles were the Multitasking tactics that we use to survive.
Now as for my patterns, I have used many military camouflage patterns. Taken from World War II to our current Irag War. I chose to take the patterns and alter them for a visual aethstetic. Now for the purpose of my patterns. I selected ‘Camo’ to personify War and the critical times we face. Each pattern chosen to suit the mood Im currently going through, or the pattern that best compliments the color scheme. As for the objects. Each object is chosen to accomplish a sense of irony. For my first series i used a Mc.Donalds  Happy Meal. This was simply chosen to accompany both the pattern and subject. The happy meal represents the everyday consumption of a quick substitute.
This is where everything ties together. The octopus consuming a Happy Meal simply portrays how we use everyday unhealthy  items to makes us feel ‘happy’ or satisfied. While we simply ignore the conflicts and tragedies (Camouflage) in our lives we seem to think these items can replace what is really going on in the world.

I hope this description helped explain the meaning behind the series. Next week I shall post a description for the recent animal guest appearances. Once again thnx for reading…

-VP