Cephlapod 5

Copied David Gilhooly, Cephlapod 5, 1971, white earthenware and glazes, 4 144 146 34 in. (10.810.817.1 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David K. Anderson, Martha Jackson Memorial Collection, 1980.137.30

Artwork Details

Title
Cephlapod 5
Date
1971
Dimensions
4 144 146 34 in. (10.810.817.1 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David K. Anderson, Martha Jackson Memorial Collection
Mediums
Mediums Description
white earthenware and glazes
Classifications
Keywords
  • Animal — fish
Object Number
1980.137.30

Artwork Description

Cephlapod 5 shows David Gilhooly's interest in the sea. As a child, Gilhooly and his family lived for a time in the Virgin Islands and he dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. The artist believes that animals can evoke emotional responses without the viewer being aware of it. Cephalopods are an ancient group of marine mollusks that appeared millions of years before the first primitive fish began swimming in the ocean. Indeed, Cephlapod 5 looks slimy and repulsive, as though the primordial creature just crawled out of the sea.