Becky Harris – April 15, 2016
The slippery New Zealand sea creature has the internet abuzz, but designers have long used octopuses as conversation starters.
At first, I considered myself qualified to write this based on the very large octopus on my shower curtain in the bathroom I refer to as The Squid and the Whale Room. However, typing that made me realize I don’t know the difference between squids and octopuses. So I watched some YouTube videos, refreshed myself on where phylum is in the biological classification system, and studied photos of round versus torpedo-shaped heads. But apologies in advance for any squids that have slipped, Inky-like, through the cracks.
This is the same shower curtain I have, but this bathroom is much more photogenic than mine. I really love the photo styling here. It’s kind of like someone left evidence around for a game of Clue, and the answer is “Inky in the bathroom with the rope.” In the real mystery of Inky, The Washington Post reports that suction cup prints on the floor helped the aquarium staff solve the mystery of where he went.
Nautical Octopus shower curtain: Thomas Paul
After Inky escaped from his tank, he slithered across the floor and into a drain that leads to the waters of Hawke’s Bay, off New Zealand’s North Island. So it’s only appropriate to include this photo of an octopus shower drain. Shower drains are an often missed design opportunity— why not have fun with one?
Floor tile: Walker Zanger; drain:Designer Drains
This fantastic shower curtain called Sea Fairy transformed the mood in an artist’s Laurel Canyon bathroom.
Shower curtain: Sea Fairy by artist Belle 13, DENY Designs
Here’s a more menacing rendering of the sea creature, a popular one we’ve seen used in every type of room. It adds some tension to the comfortable, calm neutrals in this bedroom.
There’s a wild story about how this creature encountered deep-sea divers in the Irish Sea in 1812. It sounds like a tall tale, but it makes for a great read.
Lord Bodner Octopus Print: Foundry
It’s so good it deserves two photos so you can see how it looks below.
I’m sure Inky’s aquarium pals must miss him, but I’ll think of him whenever I come across an octopus robe hook, shower curtain, drain, chandelier, print, pillow, bean bag chair, mobile or hamper.
Does your fascination with Inky’s ilk predate his quiet escape? Please share your octopus art in the Comments!