Kiss of the Sea 

Octavio Ocampo painted ‘Kiss of the Sea’ using oil on canvas, in a style which he calls ‘metamorphic realism.’ From a distance, the image appears to depict a tree growing from a rocky outcrop, next to an expanse of ocean. But upon closer inspection, the tree and rock resolve into human faces; their forms and expressions seemingly carved out of the materials themselves. Look closer still and you will see faces in the sky and water. Ocampo has carefully built up layers of paint to create these illusions, a process demanding immense patience. His paintings draw on the tradition of trompe l’oeil, literally meaning ‘deceives the eye’. This technique was intended to astonish viewers, and became popular as a demonstration of artistic virtuosity. Yet it also encourages a deeper appreciation of the relationship between perception, representation, and the handmade. In Ocampo’s hands, these materials create a surreal and thought-provoking work of art, blurring the boundaries between fine art and illusion.