Mariage 2019

Eckart Hahn made this painting, Mariage, which depicts an octopus draped over a coat rack, with oil. The octopus is rendered in exquisite detail, the shading and texture giving a real sense of depth. Hahn isn't trying to hide the process here - he seems to want to show us the labour and time it took to create this. He's using the oil paint almost like ink to achieve the effect of the octopus. But then, look at the coat rack – it’s very still and silent. The artist uses a darker tone here, but it is smooth with no visible texture. You can see how the octopus clings to it. The choice of oil paint gives this sense of texture to the Octopus, a playful and clever way to construct a way of seeing and experiencing the world, one that is rooted in the process of making. Hahn’s work reminds me of René Magritte, who also created surreal juxtapositions of ordinary objects. Both artists invite us to look beyond the surface and find new meanings in the everyday.