Case Studyo is proud to unveil its first collaboration with the unstoppable creative force that is Rob Ober.
Rob paints intuitive and highly expressive images. He is not interested in making or manufacturing a painting, for Ober painting must be an experience. The artist sees every work as an opportunity to express feelings beyond reason and words. The act of creation remains mysterious and elusive to understand. Ober’s output is unapologetically raw and brutal, he uses its inherent strangeness as a powerful tool to make a lasting impression on the viewer.
Rob Ober’s works can be considered as an echo of expressionism, both Russian and German. The paintings depict a wide range of subjects including iconic deities, historical figures, carnal acts, and his childhood memories of living abroad. A recurring theme seems to be the alligator, a living prehistoric relic that the artist feels a strong spiritual connection with. Ober’s paintings often depict languid alligators resting on the shore.
For his collaboration with Case Studyo, Ober reprises this beloved motif in sculptural form casted in solid bronze. Here however, the alligator is not relaxing on the riverbank but depicted in full action. We find the carnivorous beast mid feeding session, devouring its human meal. The unfortunate snack still protruding from between the predator’s powerful jaws. Surprisingly, the prey’s expression is not one of panic or pain. The victim seems to be willingly accepting its fate with a smile. It is not a far stretch to imagine the alligator is the artist and the victim is the viewer, and that there is pleasure and solace to be found in surrender.