The camera takes me to a whole new world.
The human body, nature, light; they are all shapes beyond shapes.
About
me
Born in 1992 in Nicosia, Cyprus, Robin Ocal, of Kurdish origin, produces a multifaceted body of work that spans photography, video, and digital art.
He developed a passion for photography early on, largely due to the discovery of his grandfather’s collection of analog cameras, which continuously fascinated him. Robin Ocal later acquired his first Pentax, with which he began his artistic experiments. He quickly developed a taste for studio portraits, working like a "director" to ensure every detail was perfectly arranged.
In 2014, Robin Ocal began his studies in design and fashion at Adnan Menderes University in Aydin. Concurrently, he started his professional career in the artistic field. Two years later, he moved to France. In 2021, Robin Ocal joined the Atelier des Artistes en Exil, which offered him the opportunity to exhibit his work in France for the first time.
The photographer's work is strongly influenced by surrealism and art history in the digital age. Robin Ocal explores with a dreamlike quality the connections between the human form and nature in his portraits. His style is characterized by simple compositions. Self-taught, he relies on his eye and natural instinct to create his work.
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is a series of thirty-three photographs taken by Robin Ocal between 2020 and 2021. Each of the shots, named after terms related to the field of psychology, prompts us to reflect on the connections between art and emotions.
Robin Ocal seeks to capture the emotional essence of his subjects beyond their physical form. According to the artist, the body is merely a shell within which the soul resides: exploring and manipulating body language gives us access to the deepest animic emotions. In Metamorphosis, models appear in surreal and abstract compositions that purge them of their individual identity. Thus, a new vocabulary tinged with dreamlike qualities unfolds before us.
Through Metamorphosis, Robin Ocal questions and urges viewers to ponder the impact of art on their psyche: to what extent do the works we encounter shape our understanding of the world and our place in it? Drawing parallels with the Rorschach test, Metamorphosis invites the viewer to be captivated by the emotional complexity of each photograph and to explore their own feelings in a deeply personal and introspective manner. The interpretation of the works is subjective: it varies depending on the viewer's current psychological state, highlighting the unique and personal connection between art and emotion.
UNCONSCIOUS MIND
MEMORY INHIBITION
AMBIVALENCE
INDIVIDUAL
Daydream
Compensation
HYSTERIA
Introjection
Neurosis
Catharsis
Rhetoric
PERSONALITY PATHOLOGY
CONVERSION
Neurasthenia
Complex
Seereen Memory
Phi Phenomenon
PERSONA
ILLISION
Overdetermination
Fixation
SUBLIMATION
Scotomization
Existential
IMPULSE
Perception of Depth
Structuralist
COMPLEX
Depression
Obsession
Schizophrenia
Counteraction
MIRROR SELF
Emancipating the Muse
The photo captures a moment of defiance and empowerment, as a woman stands tall, her fists clenched and her gaze fixed on the horizon. She represents the countless women who have fought, and continue to fight, for their rights and for equality. The emancipatory struggle of women is a multifaceted and ongoing effort that encompasses many different spheres of life. It includes the fight for political and economic rights, as well as the struggle to dismantle systems of oppression that have been built up over centuries.
But it is not just a political or economic struggle. The emancipatory struggle of women also requires a deep understanding of the psychological and philosophical forces that have shaped our society. It requires an examination of the ways in which gender roles and expectations have been imposed upon us, and an exploration of the ways in which these roles and expectations have limited our potential and hindered our growth.
Through their activism and their art, women are challenging these structures and seeking to create a world that is more inclusive and equitable. They are using their voices and their bodies as instruments of change, and they are inspiring others to join in the fight for a better future. So let this photo serve as a reminder of the strength and resilience of women, and of the importance of continuing the emancipatory struggle for all those who are marginalized and oppressed. Let it inspire us to join in the effort to create a more just and equal society for all.
Between subject
“The greatest mysteries, come in threes. Birth, life, death The past, the present and future.”
A breaking moment between the past and the future that blocks the person in the present. We die every day in this cycle and wake up the next day in the same cycle. That's why I can't go back to the past and it's hard to move on to the future. I'm staying in the moment.
Exhibitions
• 2024 Centre d’Art Jean-Pierre Jouffroy - Bonneuil-sur-Marne
• 2024 Espace Universel - Paris
• 2023 Atelier des Artistes en Exil -Paris
• 2023 Méta Culture et Institut du Monde Arabe - Paris
• 2023 Sorbonne Paris Nord Université -Villetaneuse
• 2022 Menart Faire -Paris
• 2022 Working Not Working -Paris
• 2021 Atelier des Artistes en Exil -Paris
I'd love to hear from you
Want to work together? Call, text, or email me!
+33 6 52 58 73 28 / robinocal.art@gmail.com
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