School shooting in Finland » « These guys would get my vote

Hmmm. Maybe I should cultivate some dreadlocks

i-f6518d993e4be580c2662d5f560c186c-runeolsenoctpus.jpg

I’m disappointed in Cory Doctorow. Look at the caption he put on this image:

I’m pretty taken with the sculptural work of Rune Olsen, which revels in a kind of twisting, arching form that lodges somewhere between titillating and disgusting.

I looked all over…so where’s the ‘disgusting’?

School shooting in Finland » « These guys would get my vote

Comments

  1. Mike from Ottawa says

    Well, obviously, it’s disgusting to tangle that beautiful octopus up with an icky vertebrate.

  2. Azkyroth says

    The proximity of the octopus’ beak to a set of male genitalia is cringe-inducing. Other than that, I’m at a loss.

  5. Michelle says

    I guess it’s disgusting because it looks as if they’re doing weird fiddles.

    I guess japanophiles would call this tentacle rape?

  6. says

    Wow…just from an artistic standpoint the lines and the motion are beautiful. You can actually see the subjects twisting and turning, and the duality of expression on the male human subject is mesmerizing. Of course, I lack male genitalia, so the proximity is not as cringe inducing to me. And, um, Dude may have stumbled upon the wrong blog to use those words.

  8. Patrick says

    That is not a male. Those are breasts, albeit small breasts, and the octopus is clearly giving this woman the ride of her life. Just look at that nipple-twisting action!

  9. says

    That’s an amazing piece of art. Cringe inducing yes, but amazing none the less.

    Maybe Dude’s just having a bad day, he seems to have missed the point entirely.

  10. Nan says

    I’m with Sabrina. It’s an amazing piece. Incredibly fluid, definitely beautiful, and for sure disturbing on several levels — and good art should disturb the viewer.

    I am intrigued by the materials the artist works with. My immediate assumption based on the photo was fiberglas, but apparently his chosen medium is papier mache.

  11. Dwimr says

    Her abdomen is protuberant. She is clearly pregnant. That is an Octopus practicing trans-species obstetrics.

    “Yep, your water’s broke alright.”

  13. David vun Kannon says

    I agree, the sculpture is definitely derivative of The Dream of The Fisherman’s Wife. I am bummed out that I missed being the first to make the connection on this thread by 35 minutes.

  15. ctenotrish, FCD says

    Huh. I don’t get disgusting out of this piece at all. I think it is fascinating. It is hard to read the expression on faces when they are upside down, so I flipped the image to see what the vertebrate’s face looked like, and I am getting a ‘pleasure’ vibe . . . . Cool art. Glad you posted it, PZ.

  17. HP says

    By an odd coincidence, I was just reading this short story last night, about a sculptor of similar works.

    I’m also reminded of a documentary about art history I saw some years ago, and they showed a work of Renaissance sculpture depicting the agonies of some martyred saint. The art historian pointed out that this revered work of art clearly shows a woman in the throes of orgasm. Anybody know what sculpture I’m talking about?

  18. Barn Owl says

    #17

    The art historian pointed out that this revered work of art clearly shows a woman in the throes of orgasm. Anybody know what sculpture I’m talking about?

    Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Theresa, perhaps?

  21. Bee says

    I like Rune Olsen’s sculpture. The finish is interesting given the newspaper/acrylic medium he’s using. Papier mache is harder to manipulate so skillfully than one might think.

    Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Theresa – unforgettable, once seen.

  24. Rey Fox says

    I’ll have to go tell Doug Winger that he can get into serious galleries if he just does all his art in Papier-mâché.

  26. Carlie says

    Where’s the line between “neat art” and “would you like some therapy”? A couple of his sculptures are very striking, but seen en masse there seems to be some real creepiness going on.

  27. says

    Clearly, what’s disgusting is that the put a vertical pupil, like some sort of vertebrate feline, on the octopus eye instead of its proper horizontal pupil. If one is going to truly espouse love for invertebrates, one must not project creepy vertebrate traits on them. Insisting that your octopus put on contacts before coming to bed is only one step away from having it wear a cheerleader outfit… it’s just UNNATURAL. And it CREEPS ME OUT. I think we need a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT about this!

  28. Hank Fox says

    They’re obviously doing something sexual, but I don’t see it as disgusting at all.

    After all, Aquaman had to come from somewhere.

  29. Hank Fox says

    Or how about this:

    The next morning at the breakfast table, the guy’s mother says “Bobby, are those sucker marks on your neck? Again??”

  30. jeebus says

    The floor of the gallery appears to be filthy. Other than that, the piece is quite beautiful.

  31. says

    I’ll have to go tell Doug Winger that he can get into serious galleries if he just does all his art in Papier-mâché.

    Coffee in sinuses. Fuck you!

  32. mandrake says

    Where’s the line between “neat art” and “would you like some therapy”?

    The two are not mutually incompatible. Maybe this is his therapy. Now you can go creep yourself out thinking about what he’d be doing if he weren’t an artist. O_o

  34. Bride of Shrek says

    Its called “For Everything I Long to Do” so I guess its a sexual thing rather than some chap being eaten. And if you look at the rear shots his toes are positively CURLING in delight.
    http://www.runeolsen.net/pages.php?content=gallery.php&navGallID=1&activeType=gall

    Looking at some of the other sculptures I think Rune is one very talented man, a sick little puppy no doubt but still very talented. Can’t say I’ll be putting any of them in my loungeroom any time soon though.

  37. octopod says

    Monty wins. ^_^

    Bride of Shrek, that’s not missionary position because both those bonobos are female. They’re …er… “making tortillas”, for some languages. (Don’t click that link unless you’re at home!)

  38. AlanWCan says

    revered work of art clearly shows a woman in the throes of orgasm

    Hmm, I think someone should tell either Bernini or this art historian that what he thinks is the throes of orgasm is actually his date passed out from boredom. St. Theresa looks more like she’s doing a sarariman going home on the Yamanote line at 2 am after a 12 hour workday followed by several too many mizuwari with the sempai. “ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ” is not full-throated orgasm.

    (OK, I’m a philistine…slinks off)

  40. Jimmy says

    I looked all over…so where’s the ‘disgusting’?

    He kind of looks like he’s getting a beak-enabled blowjob…

  41. gsb says

    It’s a striking piece of art, and not disturbing in the least. H.R. Giger’s work, now that’s disturbing.

  42. Bride of Shrek says

    Thanks Octopod, we WERE having burritos for dinner tonight but now I can’t get the tortillas out of the pantry without wetting myself laughing. The things I have learnt from this thread are

    a) what a Bonobo monkey looks like
    b) that “making tortillas” is the funniest name for a sexual activity since the “Cleveland Steamer”.
    c) and, thanks to your enlightening link, that the group the Scissor Sisters was named after that particular “movement”.

    Who said scientists were boring!!!

  44. Lurchgs says

    Nan –

    I disagree.. Good art need not be disturbing. Good art needs to make you *feel* or “think*. If it doesn’t do either, it’s not good art.

    (no, it doesn’t count if the “art” makes you think “what a piece of crap” or “we spent our tax dollars on THAT?” )

    As for this particular piece, it does appear to be – pretty clearly – modeled (pardon th’ pun) on The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife. I find it well done, and.. well.. fascinating. Isn’t it the epitome of a college date?