Ootokoi - Robert Ekkel - The Heron

In his 2025 work, Robert Ekkel, artistically known under his pseudonym Ootokoi, presents a composition of remarkable calm and technical finesse. The painting shows a solitary heron in a still body of water—a classic subject that here experiences a modern, almost meditative revitalization.
What stands out especially is the handling of light: the artist captures the fleeting moment of twilight, when the warm pink of the sky is broken in the gentle ripples of the pond. The balance between the dense, almost textured forest areas in the background and the delicate rendering of the water lilies in the foreground testifies to a deep observation of nature.

Ekkels' career is inextricably linked to his training as a decoration technician at a renowned porcelain manufactory. This school of precision is evident in every brushstroke. While many contemporary works tend toward abstraction, Ekkel preserves a craftsmanlike discipline that recalls the tradition of fine porcelain painting.

Robert Ekkel succeeds in lifting the boundary between highly specialized artisanal craft and free painting. His work is not only a homage to nature but also a plea for the durability of technology in a fast-moving era. A piece of contemporary realism that, through its craft history, gains its own unique, valuable depth.