The Hulett Collection | Viki Kollerová & Noell Oszvald: Reflections in Monochrome
Viki Kollerová, Marram, 2022, Gelatin silver print, © Viki Kollerová
Courtesy The Hulett Collection
Written By: Lauren Levesque
The Hulett Collection is proud to present two emerging self-portrait artists, each with their unique voice in the forthcoming show Reflections in Monochrome, on view March 2 – May 4, 2024, in the Tulsa, Oklahoma gallery space. Viki Kollerova’s self-portraits are a poetic ode to the beauty of the natural world and the intimate connection between the self and the world around. Her photographs often feature her immersed in serene landscapes, where the interplay of light and nature serves as the backdrop to her introspective exploration. In addition, Noell Oszvald’s self-portraits are hauntingly beautiful and surreal. Her works skillfully explore the enigmatic and ethereal facets of human existence. Each photograph is a carefully crafted glimpse into her inner world, where reality melds seamlessly with dreamscapes.
Kollerová has been able to capture the essence of mystique and feminine beauty. Her work, Marram, allows viewers to feel like they are sinking into the grass and enveloping beneath the surface. The black-and-white color gives a hauntingly beautiful image, an undertone of stillness in the chaotic world surrounding us. The peace and naturalness that have been captured permit viewers to see the connection between nature and divine feminine power.
Viki Kollerová, Restharrow, 2022, Gelatin silver print, © Viki Kollerová
Courtesy The Hulett Collection
Once again, Kollerová can capture an eternal and haunting image of the surrounding landscape around her. In her piece, Restharrow, her half-laid body collapses over plants, showing the isolation and beauty of being connected with nature. Moreover, the highlighted spine reflects nicely with the images' hills, providing a genuine connection between the woman and nature. The bottom half of her body can blend into the sand, disappearing and leaving viewers wondering why she chose to position herself this way.
Noell Oszvald, Untitled #1, 2013, Gelatin silver print © Noell Oszvald
Courtesy The Hulett Collection
Oszvald captured a dreamlike world in the way she photographed herself. Her piece, Untitled #1, transports the viewer to what feels like a plane of consciousness. The way her shadow drags behind her, mirroring the tree a few feet in front of her, invokes the melancholy feeling of a nightmarish dream. The image feels heavy and cold, allowing the focus to be on the woman hunched over and stiff like a tree.
Noell Oszvald, Untitled #2, 2014, Gelatin silver print © Noell Oszvald
Courtesy The Hulett Collection
In the piece Untitled #2, Oszvald commands the space. The viewer’s eyes are drawn to her, and the background blurs into an abyss. The submitting pose of her looking down mimics the idea that she is not in control. However, the self-portraits command the audience to only look at her. The shadows that play with the darker water being enmeshed at the bottom of her clothing solidify the idea of her inner world and how her experience is being illuminated from within.
