Calvary by Octavio Ocampo

The artist appears in the work (lower right), representing St. John as well as all of humanity. This shows the benefits from the forgiveness bought by Christ’s sacrifice and glories in the hope that this brings.

The cloth robe worn by the artist on the lower right is a representation of the cloth pressed to Christ’s face by Veronica on which his countenance was indelibly imprinted. The cloth pictured shows Veronica’s face crying in anguish for the pain that Christ had to endure on the cross.

The "Calvary" is a vision of the time and place where all of humanity and hope for salvation and a life in God’s grace was born. We should look upon it as an eternal reminder of God’s love for the world and everyone in it. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Octavio Ocampo paints in a style that he terms as "metamorphic". This name is appropriate for two reasons. The first is that his pictures appear classical in nature, but upon closer examination we realize that what was first seen appears to be something else entirely. The second metamorphosis transpires within the viewer of the work as he is given a glimpse of his preconceptions and how they effect what he sees. It is uncanny how what we most need to see, appears most prominently to us and can in fact be a comfort and guide as we interact with the metamorphic work and through it with our own subconscious.