A Parliament of Owls 

Editor: This painting is called "A Parliament of Owls" by Scott Gustafson, made using oil paints. It depicts a gathering of owls. I'm immediately struck by how each owl has such a distinct personality. How do you interpret this gathering of birds? Curator: This piece pulls at many threads! First, let's consider the title – "A Parliament of Owls." The word 'parliament' immediately evokes ideas of governance, legislation, but also points to exclusion and the inherent power dynamics embedded within social hierarchies. Knowing this, how does it shift your reading of the varied owl personalities depicted? Editor: It does make me see it differently. The speaker owl looks to be addressing the others. I wonder who is excluded and who is calling the shots. Are some of these owls in the parliament and others serving? Curator: Exactly! Now, consider how genre painting, which often depicts scenes from everyday life, meets fantasy art here. It challenges the established human-centric view of power, presenting an alternative social structure within the animal kingdom. What statements could this be making about human society through this allegorical representation? Editor: Maybe it’s showing how ridiculous our own political systems can be, holding a mirror to our species and using owls to get us to reconsider things from another vantage point. Curator: Precisely. This use of figuration—assigning human traits to animals—invites us to reconsider power dynamics and challenge the status quo through the lens of art history and contemporary theory. We can see art is a method to spark dialogues on societal issues and encourage critical self-reflection. Do you think art like this can make a difference? Editor: It’s certainly given me something to think about today, particularly as we navigate complex power structures. Thanks for sharing that perspective.