NAU NUA: OLEG DOU

Distressing perfection

Looking at Oleg Dou photographic works a strangle feeling invades you because of its artificial and forced perfection that contains a deep inner pain. Probably, they are a portrait of our daily scars due to the social roles which are impossible to achieve. Oleg Dou is a young Russian artist that expresses his fascination for classical painting portraits and a personal hate to be photographed. His work is really amazing because his portraits make us face up to the false image we are building about ourselves. Series as Toystory, Tears or Nuns have developed a personal creation that has a lot in common with all of us. It’s the imperfect perfection.

Are we all mannequins?

There are a lot of situations in our life where we don't have a choice or don't know that we have. In that case I can answer “yes” for this question

What does reality mean to you?

It is something that connects me with other people.

I feel a kind of coldness with the unreal perfection shown in your work which is really painful and distressing. Could you explain us something about your techniques?

I'm inspired with the paintings from very old time where you can see perfection and something weird at the same time. It is very interesting for me to “play this game” with the viewers. I always do something very attractive and disturbing in one work.

All your photographs are portraits always looking to the camera. What do you search in all those looks?

I used to be afraid of the camera when I was a child. I tried to smile, but the result was awful. I never liked my photographs because my eye's always showed I was unhappy. And I had a passion to find this kind of portraits everywhere from our family album to books of classical paintings. Now I'm trying to create such a things.

Your series called Toystory shows us child portraits in an albino look but wearing some red accessories that represent a shocking contrast. Do you feel childhood as a distressing period?

In some ways yes. I hated different celebrations, costumes, clowns and so on.

Tears is the most touching of your works because the women’s faces crying but in a cold expression. Is there no way out of social restrictions?

I wouldn't be so strict. But of course we are all limited by this social behaviour rules and stereotypes.

Paper and paints is more surreal because faces are painted or papered. Is it necessary to disguise ourselves?

It is necessary in some situations. For example it won't be good if you have bad mood at the party and spoil it, it would be better if you will smile or just won't come. But of course it is very important to be natural and not to pretend in the most life situations.

Nuns seems to be inspired by different religious iconographies, isn’t it?

Yes it is. Also I should say that I saw old photographs of nuns from the XIX century in the museum. And that pushed me.

All your series are about child and women. Are they the main social victims?

Actually I don't do man portrait because it doesn't look proper way. But I'm definitely agree with you.

What’s your freedom concept?

It is to live my own life.

Interview by Juan Carlos Romero