Gyotaku: Part IV

P is for Pulpe, print by Mary M Payne

I have a special fondness for the octopus.... "Pulpe"( in French).  Here are a few interesting facts about the various 300 species.

1. An octopus is a mollusk that has eight limbs, a member of the Octopoda order.
2. Octopuses as carnivores eat meat including fish, crabs, crayfish, shrimp and other mollusks.
3. Octopuses can rapidly alter their soft bodies and squeeze into small gaps between rocks and coral.  I once saw this on a boat in Hawaii. 
4. An octopus can grow a new limb if one is lost.
5. An octopus has three hearts. One heart is used to pump blood between its organs. The other two are used to pump blood through its gills
6. The mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is known for its ability to mimic other marine animals. They can mimic other dangerous marine animals, like eels, lionfish and sea snakes.
7. The seven-arm octopus (Haliphron atlanticus) has been observed having a complex relationship with jellyfish. They appear to work together in capturing prey and protecting each other.
8. The veined octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) has been recorded using tools. He can gather up seashells and coconut shells and build himself a shelter sometimes with a door to hide behind. 
9. Octopuses appear to be very intelligent and most likely the smartest invertebrate. Experiments have shown they can store both short and long-term memories.

For this project I took myself to the fish market at Place Charles de Gaulle to buy an octopus to use for Gyotaku but then to cook and eat it. Even though I have eaten Octopus in restaurants,   I have always been reluctant to cook one.   I have to say it was delicious once all the India ink was washed off and I bathed it in vinaigrette. 

As I made several impressions of the Octopus I found that the whole print, showing all eight limbs, is an impressive and overwhelming presence on the page.  Instead I chose to use only a part of the printed Octopus in two of the pieces of the series.  

FYI, the background on this collage was made by wrapping a plastic bag around a coffee can tied with a string and rolling it in different colored acrylics then onto the rice paper.  

  The plant-like prints were made from a  Chinese cabbage leaf and part of a web-like foam stamp I had bought commercially for journaling.   The clam is carved from rubber and inked with a stamp pad. 

It's true there are printing possibilities everywhere you turn.