ARTIST STATEMENT
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Vlad Pocol explores the theme of migration — both geographical and emotional — from individual and collective perspectives. His artistic quest examines experiences and traumas with the goal of self-betterment. By engaging with the subconscious, he examines how origins, ancestors, and past experiences influence his present identity and future aspirations.
His works address themes such as social conformity, identity, and the significance of intuition in life’s processes. Additionally, Vlad Pocol’s research examines humanity's migration into the age of artificial intelligence, exploring the transition from biological to digital existence and the concept of a hybrid or AI-integrated human.
His abstract oil and acrylics paintings use movements and lines to materialize the energies from cognitive processes, creating memorable imprints. This sculptural effect gives viewers the impression that the paintings are in motion.
Expanding his exploration through various mediums like concrete, resin, and metal, he creates works that express a multitude of emotions across his paintings, sculptures and installations. His creative practice also extends to designing objects, seamlessly integrating his artistic approach into functional forms.
I. PAINTINGS
ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION
CURRENT ARTISTIC APPROACH
MEDIUMS AND TECHNIQUES
SELECTED RECENT WORKS
TRANSITION TO SCULPTURE
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II. SCULPTURES AND INSTALLATIONS
EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT
TECHNICAL AND CONCEPTUAL ASPECTS
SELECTED RECENT WORKS
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III. STUDY CASE “FUSION”
NARRATIVE AND SYMBOLISM
MEDIUMS AND TECHNIQUES
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IV. ACTUAL RESEARCHES
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V. CURRICULUM VITAE, CONTACT & LINKS
I. PAINTINGS
ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION
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Vlad Pocol’s artistic journey took a defining turn in 2018 during a workshop focused on replicating Gerhard Richter’s technique. While it wasn’t his first time experimenting with oil paint, this workshop marked a pivotal moment. The painting he created in the workshop (cf. picture “before”) fell as he brought it home to dry, resulting in its partial destruction. Determined to salvage it, he improvised, using an oyster knife as a spatula to create new textures. This creative transformation gave birth to the distinct lines that would become the signature element of his work (cf. picture “after”).
Initially, his technique involved drawing long, continuous lines, but over time, his approach evolved into shorter, more deliberate strokes. This shift brought a new rhythm and energy to his work, reflecting a matured artistic language.
At this stage, his paintings seem to leap into a third dimension, giving a sculptural effect that draws the viewer into their depth and motion. A playful interaction with light also became central to his work, as he skillfully uses its interplay with shadows and textures.
Vlad Pocol's early works were defined by a minimalist approach to painting, characterized by monochromatic palettes and loosely structured compositions.
During this period, the artist was drawn to the dynamics of movement and migration, seeking to integrate their essence into his evolving artistic vision.
This period marked a significant turning point in the artist's practice. Vlad Pocol began to deeply explore the interplay of colors, gradually moving away from monochromatic compositions.
He immersed himself in the art of pigment blending and creation, while incorporating increasingly generous layers of paint and embracing greater freedom in his gestures and lines.
In the current phase, the fusion of mediums, including concrete, has transformed paintings into sculptural forms, redefining their spatial impact and presence. This evolution is marked by greater freedom of movement, both in gesture and form, complemented by an increasing complexity in color blending that adds depth and dynamism to the work.
Simultaneously, for the first time, the artist is also exploring the possibilities of flat surfaces, creating a compelling dialogue between dimensionality and the plane.
CURRENT ARTISTIC APPROACH.
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Vlad Pocol’s current artistic approach focuses on raw, dynamic techniques that bring visible energy to his works. His paintings are filled with movement and vibrations, expressed through bold lines and layered textures. This physicality creates a tactile quality, where every mark reflects the intensity of his creative process. While his earlier works leaned toward a restrained monochromatic palette, Vlad Pocol has increasingly explored the power of color, incorporating a wider range of pigments to evoke richer emotional and conceptual depth. His evolving use of color is informed by a thoughtful engagement with the theory of pigments, recognizing how different hues and combinations can amplify the energies in his compositions.
Vlad Pocol draws intellectual inspiration from figures such as Josef Albers, who famously described color as "the most relative medium in art", emphasizing that it continually deceives. This principle aligns with Vlad Pocol’s exploration of how color and perception interact to shape the viewer’s experience, allowing him to use pigments with precision and intention.
At its core, Vlad Pocol’s work remains deeply personal. He creates when his emotions have been processed and reflected upon, allowing each piece to emerge from a place of understanding rather than impulse. This does not mean his art lacks emotional expression; rather, it channels those emotions into intuitive forms once the experiences are processed. The intellectual framework of thinkers like Carl Jung, who explored the relationship between the unconscious and personal expression, also informs his work, helping him articulate his inner world in a more structured way.
MEDIUMS AND TECHNIQUES.
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Vlad Pocol is deeply involved in the selection and blending of pigments, often combining them with oil or acrylic gel to achieve rich colors and ideal viscosity. He even manually extracts pigments, a process he aims to explore further in the future. His preference for oil paint reflects his appreciation for its depth, though the substantial volumes he applies mean his works can take several weeks to fully dry.
His technique is defined by the layering of paint to build texture and depth. Vlad Pocol begins with sweeping, flowing gestures he calls “vibratory movements” often applied with his hands. He then spends hours refining the surface with spatulas of varying sizes. More recently, he has experimented with finishing pieces using only his fingers, adding a raw, tactile dimension to his work.
Vlad Pocol’s creative process also includes experimenting with materials like concrete powder, epoxy resin or spray paint.
II. SCULPTURES AND INSTALLATIONS.
EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
Vlad Pocol’s exploration of sculptures and installations reflects a natural progression in his artistic journey, extending the themes and textures of his paintings into three-dimensional expression. He frequently works with alabaster plaster to craft pieces that balance monumental presence with delicate details. Metal, concrete, plaster, epoxy resin, wood, papier-mâché, textile and paint serve as key materials in his sculptural works, allowing him to translate the layered, tactile qualities of his canvases into solid, physical forms.
Through sculptures and installations, Vlad Pocol creates immersive experiences that evoke deeper emotional responses, inviting viewers to engage with the work on a more emotional level while offering new perspectives on the emotional and conceptual depth of his creations.
TECHNICAL AND CONCEPTUAL ASPECTS.
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Vlad Pocol’s artistic practice is driven by both technical innovation and conceptual depth, reflecting a logical continuity throughout his work. A notable part of his creative process involves using materials that would otherwise be discarded, such as plastic, cardboard, and other remnants. This approach speaks to the artist’s responsibility, transforming his artistic waste into valuable pieces and promoting sustainability within the art world.
Vlad Pocol’s exploration goes beyond material use; it is aimed at making art more tangible and engaging. By integrating raw, unconventional materials with thoughtful concepts, he encourages deeper engagement, sparking curiosity and reflection on the broader environmental and conceptual narratives in his work.
III. STUDY CASE "FUSION".
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By merging his signature sculptural and painting techniques, Vlad Pocol takes a significant step in his artistic journey. This new approach represents the artist's migration across creative disciplines, blending painting and sculpture to create a cohesive and introspective narrative within an installation. This fusion reflects Vlad Pocol’s deepening understanding of the interconnectedness of mediums and artistic concepts.
NARRATIVE AND SYMBOLISM.
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In the installation “Untitled” (0.16.), cocoon-like structures dominate the installation, forming a network that symbolizes protection, memory, and emotional preservation. Each cocoon encapsulates an idea, a trauma, or a life experience—some fully matured, others still in formation. The installation explores the duality of protection and exposure: certain cocoons remain sealed, shielded by a hard outer layer, while others are partially open, revealing their delicate interiors. These interiors are formed by layers of paint featuring Vlad Pocol's signature lines—vulnerable yet resilient.
At the heart of the installation is a duo of central cocoons, rendered in lighter tones of black, white, and beige, representing the soul—the core of human essence. In contrast, the peripheral cocoons, positioned along the edges of the iron cube structure, feature darker shades of black and earthy brown-yellow, symbolizing external pressures and layers of self-protection.
The color palette enhances the emotional resonance of the piece, evoking a sense of raw animality. The iron structure is coated in black with subtle ligament detailing, grounding the installation in a primal, skeletal presence. The cocoons feature earthy brown-yellow tones—colors often associated with danger in nature, symbolizing threats that can come from the outside or arise from within. Open cocoons, rendered in lighter hues, reveal the artist's signature line work, representing moments of growth and transformation. This interplay of colors reflects not only external pressures but also the psychological self-sabotage that occurs when individuals create their own inner conflicts—a form of psychological self-cannibalism that echoes themes of vulnerability and resilience.
The network formed by these cocoon-like structures evokes the interconnectedness of neuronal pathways, suggesting how memories and experiences are stored, protected, and occasionally revealed. This interplay of light and dark, openness and closure, anchors the installation’s narrative of personal transformation, emotional resilience, and the tension between vulnerability and self-preservation.
MATERIAL AND TECHNIQUE.
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This installation is meticulously crafted using welded iron for its durable framework, layered with papier mâché and alabaster plaster to add texture and a smooth finish. The piece integrates acrylic spray, oil painting, and epoxy resin, showcasing Vlad Pocol's signature style and a seamless interplay of materials that convey depth and fluidity.
IV. ACTUAL RESEARCH.
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Vlad Pocol’s artistic practice continually positions migration—geographical, personal, spiritual, and psychological—at the core of his explorations. From the tangible realities of displacement to the inward processes of self-acceptance, migration remains a powerful lens through which he examines identity and transformation, particularly as he navigates life between Western and Middle Eastern cultures.
Embracing hybrid identities, Vlad Pocol investigates the intersection of human biology and artificial intelligence. He reimagines creation as a dialogue between organic intuition and computational logic, culminating in explorations of computational art. In doing so, his work raises profound questions about consciousness: can human awareness ultimately be digitized? What does it mean to exist in an era where the boundaries between physical and digital selves grow increasingly blurred?
Probing the psyche, Pocol charts emotional resilience and psychological shifts, revealing vulnerability as a vital source of strength. Drawing on his own experiences with anxiety, he illustrates how mental health challenges can profoundly shape an individual’s character and future. Ultimately, his work captures the “invisible migrations” of the mind, demonstrating how these inner struggles fuel creativity and guide the journey toward self-realization.