Tentacle Spotting

An enjoyable hobby of mine since I have moved out east. It's obvious from my blog that I have a thing for tentacled creatures, but I realized I have done little to really showcase their prevalence in South Korean culture. Let's remedy that.

This was high up on the side of a rather nondescript building, hidden partially in a narrow alley.

Some relationships are just inherently difficult.

Tentacle Tuesday - HPL Photography

I found these photos online over a year ago, and I don't think I ever shared them. So here you go, a series of Lovecraft inspired photographs. All images are the copyright of the photographer Marc Da Cunha Lopes.

Octopus Intelligence

(Originally posted on io9 by Annalee Newitz, Editor. November 11,2011)

Humans want to believe that they're the smartest creatures on the planet. But the more we understand octopuses, the more it seems that we may not be alone in our ability to solve problems, make complex connections between ideas, and survive by wits alone. A growing body of evidence — a lot of it still anecdotal — suggests that octopuses show elements of human-like intelligence. But their intelligence has evolved for very different reasons than ours did, which makes them particularly difficult to understand. 

The Work of Chiara Bautista

Artist Chiara Baustista creates some amazing works. Each filled with a visual language so deep you cannot help but question what they are all about. Sadly, everyone will keep on wondering. She is a very elusive person, and a rather private artist. She claims she creates art for no one but herself. And as one blogger who actually got a chance to talk to her said, "...her work is pure, and is created for her own personal benefit, because she needs it on a deeply personal level. The corrupting factors of commoditization, commercialization, and asking money for the work does not factor into her artwork at all. By this token, she is again unlike any other artist we've ever met, who even as the most minute levels acknowledge these kinds of things do affect them." (From an article posted on Urban Muse)
And while I respect the intense desire for privacy, the visual artist, who works for an Arizona newspaper by day, is so elusive I cannot help but want more of her work because of it. And with so much talent and an incredible use of visual language, I am shocked any artist could overcome some basic desire to share it with the world.
I do not know how or why the images that are available even exist, if they were leaked, or are but a small sampling perhaps begged by others to be brought out of the secrecy of her private portfolio. Such strange unexplained and hauntingly beautiful images cannot help but seem all the more mysterious with her tight lips. And so perhaps for that reason we love them all the more.
It took me a while to find what info and images I could to share. I hope they are as enjoyable to you as they are to me. And look into more on this very elusive but incredibly talented young artist.
More images after the jump.

Save the Pacific Tree Octopus

I found this site about a year ago and somehow it managed to slip through the cracks and never get its due spotlight on this site. It is a spinoff site by Lyle Zapato, creator of the Zapato Productions Intradimensional blog (ZPI for short). What I can only imagine started as a simple joke, turned into a wonderfully entertaining site and blog. Parodying cryptozoology, pop-culture and even just the outlandish idea of blogging in general, reading the random posts related to the ever elusive Tree Octopus makes for some great entertainment.
The site is laid out like a simple cryptozoology page, with references, sightings and general info. My personal favorite parts are the fact that his blog update list is called "Cephalonews" (sorta catchy huh?) and the fact that it is one of the few times I have seen reference to one of my favorite scenes in 80s cartooning (when He-Man is attacked by a blue octopus on the planet Trollo).
The site has expanded to huge proportions (they now have merchandise!). It is a hilarious bit of tongue in cheek humor that is always a joy to find on the internet. 
Check out the site, and while your at it, look at the rest of the crazy stuff Mr. Zapato gets himself into.

Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus

Tentacle Tuesdays - Weird Watery Wonders

Just thought I'd share some cool vids of fun, weird little creatures from the ocean deep. Nothing exciting, but perhaps wonderfully fascinating.

The Vampire Squid

The Magnapinna Squid

(this squid is creepy...it likes to lurk. Check it out.)

Pacific Barreleye Fish

Special thanks to the Monteray Bay Aquarium Research Institute for the amazing footage of these strange creatures.

Tentacle Tuesdays

This table is absolutely wild! Created by artist Isaac Krauss, this bronze sculpture is amazing in so many ways. Not only is it incredibly detailed, it took over two and half years to make! Krauss' inspiration for this piece stems from his high school days. Trying to think of an interesting ceramic project, Krauss drew up the design but, due to the limitations of the studio and his teacher's unfamiliarity with ceramics, the idea was shelved. However, not before his teacher suggested casting the piece out of bronze.
Then, while taking his first bronze sculpting course, Krauss unearthed the idea and set to work. He admits to having had very little experience working with bronze, but felt that stretching beyond his limits would push him as an artist. The most difficult aspect of this project, according to Krauss, was the detailed suction cups and applying them to the octopuses eight arms. For this, a close friend of his helped him out and also assisted in carrying through with the project till its completion. Overall, it took 1500 hours of work and $5000 to create this marvelous piece of art.

(Text reblogged from its original post on mymodernmet.com)

A Cthulhu Christmas

For those who know me, I am not really one for the winter holidays. And before you start giving me the usual "bah-humbugs" I hear every year, let me be clear, it isn't an animosity toward Christmas as much as just a general disinterest in holidays all together. If I don't believe in the reason for a tradition, I am hardly likely to follow it blindly (I am not one to celebrate tradition for tradition sake).

So this, what might be the only Christmas post of the year, comes from our good friends over at Tor Publishing. The blogs, short stories and other features from Tor get featured regularly on TN so if you want more, make sure to subscribe to their newsletter.

As if in attempt to garner some interest in the winter festivities, Stacey Brook has put together her Lovecraftian Gift Guide. From Cthulhu Christmas ornaments to a bizarrely sexy white dress (not that I could see anyone actually wearing a white dress of any kind). My personal faves are the tentacled ties and the wonderful little chopstick holders.

Holiday Gift Guide: AVery Cthulhu Christmas

*UPDATE* - I just purchased one of the ties. Not because I need more ties, but because I just couldn't resist how awesome they are. 

Tentacle Tuesdays

Thought I would feature some great octopus videos this week. YouTube is a never ending source of homeshot videos of just about everything. (Though like most home videos, I recommend watching the first video on mute.)
An Octopus Walks on Land (cephalopods being almost entirely made of water, I didn't know they had such mobility outside the water. So this was really cool for me.)


Shrimp Stealing Octopus Wanders Across the Decks of a Fishing Boat


The Indonesian Mimic Octopus


And finally...from a classic episode in the third season of the Muppet Show. It's The Beatles classic Octopus' Garden.

Tentacle Tuesdays

This was sent in by a reader. I find this absolutely amazing, having read many political cartoons by various artists, and with some knowledge of the history of political cartooning going back to the 18th century. I had no idea that octopodae were so predominantly used as a symbol. But they work so well for many purposes, sadly all of them nefarious. I could state that I discourage the misuse of the wonderful octopus, but really? historically, these images are so cool. The fact that someone has set up an entire blog dedicated to these images is fantastic! So check out the collected work over at Vulgar Army! And enjoy your Tuesday.

Tentacle Tuesdays

That octopus is totally drunk! And I was always told I would never find anything at the bottom of a bottle!

Tentacle Tuesdays

Today's feature is an Indonesian artist working mainly in photography and photo manipulation. Agan Harahap, better known as TOYIB, creates some bizarrely intriguing images. And his wonderfully dark sense of humor and fondness for tentacled sea-critters certainly garners the attention of my artist radar. Check out a few of his images after the jump, or head to his dA page!

Tentacle Tuesdays

More Lovecraftian art than you can shake a non-euclidean stick at. Consider it lazy blogging, but sometimes you come across other blogs or articles just worth sharing. Not only is this collection of professional Lovecraft art exceptional, but there is even more fan posted stuff in the comments. I will always love Tor's weekly newsletter, if for no other reason than the plethora of tentacled Lovecraftian fun. Enjoy the entire blog by going here:
Show Us Your Tentacles

Tentacle Tuesdays

This week I wanted to feature the art of Phineas X. Jones. The website, Octophant, is packed with some of the best tentacle art prints and posters. And best of all is that they are for sale to the public. I rather enjoy the light-hearted blend of pop-surrealism with the look of old-world screen printing. All I cn say is that I would love a Squid Can't Win t-shirt!

Tentacle Tuesdays (portrait edition)

Artwork by Jeff Powers © 2011

Artwork by Jeff Powers © 2011

Tentacle Tuesdays

 This week on Tentacle Tuesdays I am showcasing the absolutely beautiful jewelry of OctopusME. Many of these creations are actually made from the casts of real octopoda. They are even available for purchase for a rather reasonable price (well at least as far as jewelry goes). Jewelry of OctopusME.

Tentacle Tuesdays

If you are like me and both a Lovecraft fan and a traveller, you want to see all the best Lovecraft sites. However, the overly touristy Puerto Vallarta, isn't usually one of the places you think of. But after I saw these amazing photographs of these fantastic sculptures it has shot to the top of my list. Check them out, online and in person if you ever get the chance...I have to sit in one of these thrones before my life can be complete (future honeymoon perhaps? haha).

 

Originally blogged by John Brownlee of Wired Magazine in his article
The Strange Lovecraftian Statuary of Puerto Vallarta

More pics after the jump.

Tentacle Tuesdays

Alexander Ovchinnikov

Jeremy Forson

Unknown

Lars Leetaru

Note: While I absolutely love the cover of the above novel (it did its job and got me to read the book), I rather dislike the book itself. This is not a recommendation to read this garbage...even if it has cool sea creatures in it.

Tentacle Tuesdays

A new feature here at TN. As tribute to my love of tentacled creatures and Lovecraftian bizarreness, every Tuesday will now feature random images and weblinks! Huzzah!
To start it off, a number of fun images contributed by my wonderful girlfriend.

If I wore this type of thing, I would buy this in an instant.