Giraffe and Owl 2015

This is a photograph, "Giraffe and Owl," by Elina Brotherus, and it's one of those images that sticks with you. I imagine Brotherus setting up this shot, maybe in a kitchen, definitely someplace a little raw and unpolished. What's so arresting is the contrast: the naked humans wearing these goofy animal heads. The giraffe is touching its own face. Maybe there's a sense of surprise, or perhaps a recognition of the absurdity of it all? You know, making art can feel like putting on a mask, trying on different identities, and seeing how they fit. Brotherus invites us to consider the performative aspect of selfhood, how we present ourselves versus who we really are, or want to be. It also feels like it’s about the roles we play in life, like the giraffe and owl are stand-ins for something else entirely. Just like painting, photography is another way of constructing a site of inquiry, allowing us to see, think, and experience the world in fresh, unexpected ways.