Woman of substance 

Editor: Octavio Ocampo's "Woman of Substance," seems to dance between portrait and still life, maybe using watercolor on paper. The lady’s features emerge cleverly from the lilies. It's surreal, playful, almost dreamlike. What's your interpretation of this flower-woman? Curator: You've hit on something important: the dance. Ocampo wasn't just painting a face; he was painting a feeling, a transformation. Imagine yourself as one of those lilies. Petals becoming skin, stem the spine... He’s almost asking, "Where does nature end and 'woman' begin?" Perhaps a statement about the powerful feminine, inextricable from nature itself? Editor: So it's less about physical likeness, and more symbolic? Curator: Exactly! The symbolism is crucial. Lilies themselves have long held layered meanings – purity, rebirth, but also passion. Ocampo is inviting us to ponder the multifaceted nature of womanhood: Strength? Fragility? Does it also makes you reflect on your preconceptions of portraiture? Editor: Definitely! It turns the traditional portrait on its head. I guess I was so busy trying to "see" the face, that I missed the bigger picture, all of that rich, symbolic... life. It’s more than meets the eye, really. Curator: Isn't it fantastic? It proves art isn't about seeing what's *there*, but feeling what *could* be. It's a reminder that substance exists beyond surfaces. I love art for the surprises, what about you?