The Ship and the Other World

Original on canvas by Paloma King

150x150cm unframed canvas

More by Paloma King

The Ship and the Other World is a richly layered painting that invites the viewer on a journey from the known into the mysterious.

The lower section of the piece evokes the aged wood of an old ship’s hull—worn, weathered, and bearing the marks of countless voyages. Above this, a central band draws inspiration from photographs of whales, showcasing scarred textures that speak to experience, survival, and silent stories carried through the deep.

A vivid green stripe marks the transition between land and sea—a symbolic threshold. Beneath it, the world transforms into a surreal underwater realm teeming with life and wonder. Coral structures, mythical sea creatures, ancient ruins, pearls, and lost treasures hint at a hidden civilisation and echo the haunting beauty of whale songs.

This painting explores the ocean not just as a physical space, but as a metaphor for the unknown parts of ourselves—mysterious, vast, and deeply compelling. It reflects the human instinct to seek meaning beneath the surface, both in the world around us and within.