The octopus is a highly intelligent creature. Due to its complex nervous system and flexible tentacles, the octopus is considered the animal with the greatest potential to establish an underwater civilization.

This is prevented by the octopus’ reproductive strategy. These animals only reproduce once in their lifetime; after mating, the male dies and the female lays a large number of eggs. The mother then forgoes food and guards the eggs by constantly moving her tentacles to supply the eggs with oxygen. Shortly before the young hatch, the mother also starves to death. The passing on of memory, experience and knowledge thus becomes impossible – the same story is always repeated.

In “Lost Memories”, organic shapes made of foam symbolize the body of the octopus that sinks to the bottom of the sea. The thin materials of the eggshells made of handmade kozo paper react extremely sensitively to air currents. Even the movement of air by passing spectators causes them to rock gently, similar to the movements of the mother’s tentacles. This interaction is a reminder that without memory spanning generations, our civilization might be lost – just like our intelligent sea creatures.