THE Autobiography Inside a Painting

A deep dive into the story of sending an autobiography inside a painting to South Africa

It all began in May 2020,

Darcelle painted a Macaque day dreaming about an Octopus it had once seen.


THE STORY IS OF THE MACAQUE, IN THEIR RATHER isolating experience. for all its other Macaque friends have no idea what an Octopus is.

This particular Macaque will likely never see the Octopus again, and will never get answer for any of their questions about it.

The Macaque and the Octopus

Approximately 7 months later…

…watching My Octopus Teacher

Shortly after sending a few of HER paintings to Europe in Jan 2021, DARCELLE tOOK A break from painting. One afternoon, decided to watch ‘My Octopus Teacher’, A DOCUMENTARY about Craig Foster from South Africa documenting his journey following the life one particular octopus.

DARCELLE was reminded of the Macaque and Octopus painting, AND felt compelled to INVITE CRAIG FOSTER INTO THE 3 WORDS PROJECT.

“Then I remember”

-Three Words by Craig Foster (19th Jan 2021)

April 2021

Painting is complete

“Then I Remember” ended up being the painting IN which DARCELLE embedded HER autobiography inside..

This side is a direct reference to the Macaque painting. This painting depicts the same story as the Macaque except from the perspective of the Octopus. The Octopus can see the world in a way that no one else can see or understand.

This side contains hand rolled paper coils, quilling. The 8 arms of yellow coils HAS THE LIFE STORY WRITTEN INSIDE them.

To read the story, one must destroy the painting.

Or one may choose to keep the painting alive but keep the story hidden forever.

The Golden Sea Bed covered by layers of story, secrets, life, and mystery. This is the base on which the paper coils have been fixed upon.

The Golden Sea Bed covered by layers of story, secrets, life, and mystery. This is the base on which the paper coils have been fixed upon.

There are 8 yellow arms, each yellow coil contains details of a different part of Darcelle's life story. Together these 8 arms lay out the contents of what would have been the autobiography book.

There are 8 yellow arms, each yellow coil contains details of a different part of Darcelle's life story. Together these 8 arms lay out the contents of what would have been the autobiography book.

Hand rolling the rest of the ocean. The story is within an ocean and able to be parted ways with.

Hand rolling the rest of the ocean. The story is within an ocean and able to be parted ways with.