"Takaya" by Christian Geissler - Original
Artist Statement
“I spent many years on the water around Victoria. I had the opportunity to see Takaya on multiple occassions. After each encounter I was always left thinking about him for hours. Why did he go to the Chatham Islands? Why did he stay there? In my last encounter with him he had been resting up on a hill. As I watched him from the boat he got up and slowly walked down towards the water closer to me and then laid down and watched me. It was then that I took a few photos of him. I couldn't help but feel that he had wanted this mildly social interaction. Was he lonely? Or just curious? Regardless, there seemed to be a trust there. After his death, I was gutted and even more so knowing that it was a human interaction that ended his life. In a way, I even felt a little responsibility, as a human. In the end, I just really wanted to try and honour his spirit by capturing him in paint. The painting is from my last encounter with Takaya.”
Artist Bio
Christian was born and raised on the West Coast of British Columbia. Growing up, his parents kept him busy with hiking, fishing, skiing, camping, and other outdoor activities, which provided him with a deeply rooted appreciation for his natural surroundings. He studied Visual Arts and Biology at the University of Victoria and spent many years working as a biologist, consultant, adventure guide and expedition leader from the Arctic to the Antarctic. About 10 years ago, he once again picked up a paintbrush and instantly fell back in love with art. He finds his inspiration in the wildlife, nature, landscapes, and seascapes of the beautiful coast where he spends much of his time. He considers himself fortunate to be able to express his appreciation for the coast in his paintings.
Artist Statement
“I spent many years on the water around Victoria. I had the opportunity to see Takaya on multiple occassions. After each encounter I was always left thinking about him for hours. Why did he go to the Chatham Islands? Why did he stay there? In my last encounter with him he had been resting up on a hill. As I watched him from the boat he got up and slowly walked down towards the water closer to me and then laid down and watched me. It was then that I took a few photos of him. I couldn't help but feel that he had wanted this mildly social interaction. Was he lonely? Or just curious? Regardless, there seemed to be a trust there. After his death, I was gutted and even more so knowing that it was a human interaction that ended his life. In a way, I even felt a little responsibility, as a human. In the end, I just really wanted to try and honour his spirit by capturing him in paint. The painting is from my last encounter with Takaya.”
Artist Bio
Christian was born and raised on the West Coast of British Columbia. Growing up, his parents kept him busy with hiking, fishing, skiing, camping, and other outdoor activities, which provided him with a deeply rooted appreciation for his natural surroundings. He studied Visual Arts and Biology at the University of Victoria and spent many years working as a biologist, consultant, adventure guide and expedition leader from the Arctic to the Antarctic. About 10 years ago, he once again picked up a paintbrush and instantly fell back in love with art. He finds his inspiration in the wildlife, nature, landscapes, and seascapes of the beautiful coast where he spends much of his time. He considers himself fortunate to be able to express his appreciation for the coast in his paintings.
Artist Statement
“I spent many years on the water around Victoria. I had the opportunity to see Takaya on multiple occassions. After each encounter I was always left thinking about him for hours. Why did he go to the Chatham Islands? Why did he stay there? In my last encounter with him he had been resting up on a hill. As I watched him from the boat he got up and slowly walked down towards the water closer to me and then laid down and watched me. It was then that I took a few photos of him. I couldn't help but feel that he had wanted this mildly social interaction. Was he lonely? Or just curious? Regardless, there seemed to be a trust there. After his death, I was gutted and even more so knowing that it was a human interaction that ended his life. In a way, I even felt a little responsibility, as a human. In the end, I just really wanted to try and honour his spirit by capturing him in paint. The painting is from my last encounter with Takaya.”
Artist Bio
Christian was born and raised on the West Coast of British Columbia. Growing up, his parents kept him busy with hiking, fishing, skiing, camping, and other outdoor activities, which provided him with a deeply rooted appreciation for his natural surroundings. He studied Visual Arts and Biology at the University of Victoria and spent many years working as a biologist, consultant, adventure guide and expedition leader from the Arctic to the Antarctic. About 10 years ago, he once again picked up a paintbrush and instantly fell back in love with art. He finds his inspiration in the wildlife, nature, landscapes, and seascapes of the beautiful coast where he spends much of his time. He considers himself fortunate to be able to express his appreciation for the coast in his paintings.