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00-021 "Conquest of the Sea"
2000, Acrylic on Illustration Board

This diver thinks he has it all handled. He has bought the latest equipment, and like a knight of old, is preparing to do combat with the sea. Note the knife, the pressure gauges.all the latest. You can see what he does not: the ocean is about to make a commentary in the form of an unexpected wave, doubtless smacking our friend here into the water and depriving him of no small measure of dignity. The seagull on the adjacent rock is a little more in tune with the natural world, and is staging a retreat. This piece was a special commission for a diver who had seen such lessons dealt out many times. I might also point out that the collector was a police officer who had recently been wounded in the line of duty. I suspect the sense of humor and humility that gave birth to this piece are useful attributes for such a difficult profession.

Chris Butler