I’ve known Gabo for over 30 years now. We were bright eyed and bushy tailed when we met in Chicago and were a part of a wonderful group of international creatives. It’s been a great joy to work on this website for him. Processing each image and trying to catalog his work has made me realize that although I “knew” his work, I had never really looked closely at it. I’m gobsmacked! There are recurring themes of characters, places and stories. Mermaids are one of them. Mermaids are iconic to many of us, but usually in a fun, cinematic way, while for him, it is obvious that they are profound symbols of the violence that we inflict on our oceans and of how survival drives the connections that sea creatures have to each other.
This piece is an example of the bounty of life in the seas, but the mermaid faces death and her eyes are startled, looking at the skeleton as an invasion? Or, recognizing the dangers that surround her? There is a beating heart floating next to her, much like the hearts that Frida Kahlo had in her paintings. The heart that beats, that feels sorrow, that keeps one alive. The marine life is not the threat. That comes from us, the humans that pollute the oceans and fill it with micro plastics.
I did a search on the symbolism behind the mermaid stories as so many cultures have them as a part of their mythology. Even though I can’t stand AI, I thought the resulting text was insightful and interesting.
Mermaid symbolism is complex and often dualistic, representing both the seductive and dangerous aspects of the unknown sea, and embodying feminine power, transformation, and independence. They symbolize intuition, independence, and freedom, while also representing temptation and the destructive power of desire. Historically, they have also been associated with fertility, and in some interpretations, with the dangers of lust and vanity.
Duality:
Seduction and danger
Temptation:
The most common association is with the sirens of Greek mythology, who lured sailors to their deaths with their enchanting songs. This “siren’s call” symbolizes an alluring but ultimately harmful temptation.
Mermaid on fish – Oil on panel 2018
Duality of nature:
Mermaids represent the unpredictable and powerful nature of the ocean itself, which can be both beautiful and deadly. They are sometimes seen as a symbol of nature’s untamed power.
Femininity and motherhood:
Mermaids are often seen as symbols of womanly power, grace, and fertility, with connections to the sea as a feminine element.
Independence:
They embody independence and the freedom of the sea, resisting being “caged” or controlled.
Feminine mystique:
They symbolize the alluring, captivating, and mysterious nature of the feminine.
Transformation and intuition
Transformation: Mermaids, by their very nature as half-human and half-fish, represent transformation, change, and fluidity.
Intuition: They are deeply connected to instinct and intuition, symbolizing the ability to “navigate the waters of life” with inner wisdom.
The unconscious:
In psychology, mermaids can symbolize the hidden depths of the unconscious mind and the process of self-discovery.
Other interpretations
Vanity and lust:
Due to their beauty and often depicted use of mirrors, they have been interpreted as a symbol of vanity and unchecked sexuality, sometimes representing temptation and sin, especially in medieval Christian art.
Protection:
In some ancient cultures, particularly in the Near East, mermaids were viewed as protective figures, a symbol of the sea and its bounty.
Good and bad luck:
Mermaids can symbolize both good and bad luck, depending on the culture and the story being told.
The soul:
In some tales, they lack a soul and can symbolize a longing for one, as in Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid”.
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