Woman and Horses 

This painting by Octavio Ocampo presents a striking face composed of horses and birds. These are powerful symbols found across cultures and throughout history. Notice the horses, symbols of strength, freedom, and nobility, framing the face, their manes blending into the woman’s hair. Their presence evokes classical equestrian portraits, where the horse signifies status and virility. Birds, traditionally symbols of the soul and messengers between worlds, form her eyes and lips, suggesting a connection to the spiritual realm. This echoes ancient beliefs where birds were seen as intermediaries between the earthly and divine. Consider the metamorphosis: in ancient Greece, transformations of humans into animals were a common theme, expressing primal urges and desires. The surreal juxtaposition of woman, horse, and bird invites us to consider the cyclical nature of existence, where the boundaries between human and animal, conscious and unconscious, blur. This convergence evokes a deep, visceral response, tapping into our collective memory and subconscious fears and desires. The symbolism of this imagery doesn't progress in a linear way but is re-activated through memory. It resurfaces again and again, evolving and finding new life in different contexts.