Why the Mountains Whisper – for Folklore, an exhibition at Hamilton House 2018

Editor: Owen Gent’s “Why the Mountains Whisper,” a charcoal drawing from 2018, is so evocative. The muted greys and the ghostly figures create this atmosphere of both serenity and unease. What hidden stories do you think this work whispers? Curator: That sense of whispering is key, isn't it? These aren’t mountains shouting, but rather hinting at a deeper cultural memory. I see echoes of Romanticism, where landscapes reflect inner emotional states. What figures do you perceive within this muted landscape and what symbolic weight might they carry? Editor: I see two figures, very faint. They seem almost like spirits emerging from the mountains. Is it about folklore or perhaps a more personal story related to the landscape? Curator: It certainly invites contemplation on how folklore intertwines with our personal narratives. The figures, rendered almost as apparitions, evoke ancient beliefs about spirits residing in nature. Think about how different cultures attribute voices to mountains, imbuing them with wisdom, warning, or simply the echoes of past lives. Does the title lead you to associate it with a particular cultural mythology? Editor: I hadn’t considered a specific mythology, but now I’m wondering if Gent had a particular folklore in mind. Maybe that's why the figures feel so elusive, like memories fading into the landscape. Curator: Exactly. The artist uses abstraction to access universal themes. Perhaps the vagueness is a conscious choice to let each viewer project their own cultural understanding onto the scene. Considering the prevalence of oral storytelling about nature in different communities, the image speaks to this human universal practice of landscape personification. Editor: That makes sense. The ambiguity really allows for a more personal and engaging interpretation of the piece. It's more than just looking; it’s almost like remembering. Curator: Indeed. The whispers of mountains are also our own internal dialogues echoing in the landscape. It truly encapsulates our need to project and belong.