Ahuizotl

26 x 40” - Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Gold Leaf, Resin on Masonite
In Private Collection

A creature of Aztec legend. In Nahuatl, it translates to, “water dog.” A Mesoamerican Siren that lured people to a watery death. Scholars say that it signified the otter. It's a pretty pessimistic view for an animal whose primary job is to lure other otters to frolic in the water.

Otters are my totem animal and so I have exalted Ahuizotl, who is now become the fickle hand of galactic fate. He is about to eat the cosmic urchin, the sun, for no particular reason.

In my mythos, Ahuizotl represents joyful nihilism. The absurdist desire to have a good time, knowing full well that there is no plan, no destiny and there’s no reason not to enjoy yourself while the sun gets eaten.