Cloud Love
The feeling of love that surrounds our body, taking control of it and the universal happiness it gives us… Photographer Rob Woodcox is trying to capture this exact feeling in his work “Cloud Love”. Rob Woodcox, in whose works we see the effects of surrealism and the inspiration of the reality’s complexity, answered our questions about art, inspiration and love.
How did your journey with art transform you as a human being?
Art has changed my life in so many ways, it’s like going from a grey world to full color. Before I started creating photographs I don’t think I appreciated simple details and even extravagant surroundings as much as I do now. Grade school trained me to get in line and just follow expectations of others for a period of my life; photography totally set me free. It started with exploring my inner self through self portraits and concepts related to my emotions, and it has transformed into conceptualizing the social and environmental issues I see in the world through visual art. I will never stop creating visual art for as long as I live!
What is the one memory that inspired you to create?
Getting lost in forests as a child is something that always encouraged my mind to wander and continues to inspire me to this day. Being in nature helps me connect to that innocence that I think we all have within. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received is to stay in tune with my imagination and youth- I think I’ll always remain fascinated with mountains, waterfalls, trees, the complexity of everything that surrounds us.
What century of art do you find the most inspiring? What does image-making mean to you?
The surrealist movement is one that has inspired me the most. Artists like René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Frida Kahlo and Leonora Carrington have played big roles inspiring me to dream beyond the reality right in front of me. If something exists in our minds, it is real. Image making for me is like painting or sculpting- it involves piecing together different elements in an environment and building something that no one has ever seen before. I like surprising people and making them think; that’s the most exciting part of showing my work, I get to see people interact with the physical result and turn their heads. I love that part of the process.
How do you choose your subjects?
I work with people I meet and find interesting. Sometimes we meet through my travels, sometimes through Instagram. I prioritize kind and genuine people and aim to show them how they want to be seen. In group settings its less about the individual and more focused on the collective result. I welcome all bodies and identities in my art.
Which emotions does “Cloud Love” reflect?
My piece “Cloud Love” is the visceral reflection of that floating feeling you get when you’re truly falling in love with someone. That feeling that creeps all throughout your body and makes you smile the biggest smile you’ve ever experienced. That’s a feeling I get from so many people in my life- lovers, friends, family. I think everyone deserves to feel that way as often as possible within this lifetime; often in our society we limit ourselves or believe the lies that we’re not worthy of love. I want to destroy that myth- everyone deserves love.
How do you define love?
Love is accepting fully. Love is respecting and taking care of another’s peace and safety. Love is not always easy, but it is infinite in it’s rewards. The people that I truly love know they can always count on me and I know I can count on them. Love is a journey we must see through till the end.