The World BelowUs Daniel Merriam

The composition presents a layered and dreamlike scene, divided roughly into upper and lower registers by a horizontal plane. The uppermost section is dominated by a pale blue-grey atmosphere, within which fragments of architectural forms – suggesting buildings or structures – are discernible in shades of lavender and pink. These shapes appear suspended, almost floating, alongside geometric solids like pyramids and spheres, contributing to an overall sense of detachment and unreality.
Below this ethereal plane, the scene shifts dramatically. A complex network of mechanical elements – gears, pipes, and what appears to be scaffolding – forms a dense, interwoven structure. The color palette here is warmer, with oranges, reds, and browns creating a feeling of industrial activity or perhaps even decay. Central to this lower register is a bright yellow submersible vehicle, viewed from an oblique angle. A single figure can be seen within the vessel’s cockpit, seemingly observing the scene below.
The juxtaposition of these two distinct realms – the weightless, fragmented upper section and the intricate mechanical world below – is striking. The presence of the submersible suggests exploration, a journey between these disparate realities. It implies a desire to understand or interact with the complex machinery that lies beneath a more abstract, perhaps symbolic, realm.
The painting’s subtexts are open to interpretation. One possible reading is an allegory for humanitys relationship with technology and its impact on the environment. The submerged vehicle could represent scientific inquiry or even exploitation, while the fragmented architecture above might symbolize lost ideals or a fractured society. Alternatively, the work may explore themes of perception and perspective – the observer within the submersible gains a unique vantage point, suggesting that our understanding of reality is always mediated by our position and tools.
The artist’s use of watercolor lends to the images dreamlike quality; the soft edges and translucent washes contribute to a sense of ambiguity and fluidity. The overall effect is one of unsettling beauty – a visual puzzle inviting contemplation on the nature of progress, observation, and the boundaries between the tangible and the imagined.