Treetops Daniel Merriam

The composition presents a surreal architectural structure dominating the visual field. It appears as a hybrid form – part building, part organic growth – rendered in a palette dominated by pinks, purples, and muted oranges. The central edifice is tall and slender, its facade punctuated with rectangular windows of varying sizes and shapes. These openings suggest an interior space, though their contents remain obscured.
The structure’s base seems to emerge from a swirling mass of forms that resemble roots or tendrils, intertwining and blurring the distinction between built environment and natural growth. These organic elements extend upwards, enveloping the building and contributing to its overall sense of integration with the surrounding landscape. Above, the composition opens into an ambiguous space filled with what appear to be stylized foliage and a suggestion of a canopy.
Several peculiar details draw attention. A small, fish-like creature is suspended near the top of the structure, adding a touch of whimsical absurdity. A long, curving tube extends from the building’s side, terminating in an indistinct form that further complicates the interpretation of its function or purpose. The overall effect is one of dreamlike disorientation; familiar architectural elements are distorted and recontextualized within a fantastical setting.
The paintings subtexts likely explore themes of nature versus civilization, confinement versus freedom, and perhaps even the anxieties surrounding technological advancement. The building’s imposing presence suggests a desire for control or order, while its entanglement with organic forms implies an inevitable return to the natural world. The peculiar details – the fish, the tube – introduce elements of the uncanny, disrupting any straightforward reading of the scene and inviting contemplation on the boundaries between reality and imagination. The color scheme contributes to this atmosphere of unreality, evoking a sense of nostalgia or longing for a place that exists only in the realm of dreams.