The Kraken Wakes then Helps Out

2006 62cm x 61cm

There’s a terrible fire on an oil rig but the storm is too severe for a rescue. Fortunately, the Kraken wakes and dispels the myth that it is an evil monster by helping the workers escape. He braves the heat to assist the trapped workers, wrenching off chunks to make escape routes. Despite his appearance and reputation, he is actually a friendly beast.

I’m not sure how exactly he convinces the people that he isn’t going to eat them. I think he probably communicates with telepathy.

The idea for this painting came from a picture I saw in an old National Geographic. It showed a dockyard which had a large pumping machine being used that looked a bit like a giant squid. “Man,” I thought, “it’d be cool if you had giant squid helping out with that. I bet their arms and suckers would be excellent for construction or haulage work.”