Artist Lach Taylor-Grant, aka Rem, has captured the zeitgeist with his latest mural near the Tinnie Bar at the Assembly pub in Braddon, where he also works as a manager.
His "coronavirus octopus" - which is not double but triple vaccinated - lurks in the corner of the pub, often not seen, but always giving Lach a sense of accomplishment.
"I really like it, especially the concept of coming out of lockdown and it has a message which is kind of important right now. I'm one of those people who think everyone should be vaxxed," he said.
"It's something that we've done really well in Canberra. Sometimes that Canberra bubble is a good thing."
The 26-year-old born-and-bred Canberran has done other works in his home city, including another octopus at the European Garage in Fyshwick.
"They're really nice shapes to paint," he said.
"I didn't want to be stuck being known as the Octopus Guy but people love it, so I decided to lean into it."
Lach says his ambition is to work full-time as an artist and fill up some of the "big, grey walls" around Canberra. He reckons he was "no good at school" but has found his niche in art.
"Possibly because I'm in control and I just like to create things," he said.
"I like doing things that are tangible, working with my hands."
Lach has also started the initiative Flow State University, a space where artists can collaborate and support each other's endeavours, paying it forward after he was helped to break into the scene, including stencil artist Luke Cornish, aka E.L.K., who took him under his wing.
And the sky is literally the limit for Lach.
"Canberra has got so many blank walls, so many big, grey monstrosities and I'm one of those people who wants to paint on everything," he said.
