Entrance to the Naval Headquarters + ‘Vulture’, Engraving from the Nouveau Larousse Illustré, c. 1900 1995 - 2007

Curator: This unsettling photomontage is titled "Entrance to the Naval Headquarters + ‘Vulture’, Engraving from the Nouveau Larousse Illustré, c. 1900," by León Ferrari. The artwork is currently housed at the Tate Collections. Editor: It strikes me as ominous. The stark contrast of the vulture against the imposing doorway creates a really unsettling feeling. Curator: Ferrari was known for challenging power structures. Superimposing this 19th-century engraving onto the naval headquarters suggests a critique of military authority, perhaps questioning its moral foundation. Editor: Yes, and the choice of the vulture is very pointed, suggesting corruption or decay within those institutions. It's not just *what* he is showing, but *how* he’s piecing these elements together—found imagery, recombined to create a powerful statement. Curator: Absolutely, this work exemplifies Ferrari's commitment to using readily available materials to challenge socio-political norms. Editor: Seeing the original source of the vulture changes my perspective. It’s a repurposing, or almost a re-contextualizing, rather than creation. Curator: Indeed. Ferrari forces us to confront the ways in which imagery can be manipulated and used to convey powerful, often critical, messages. Editor: It's a disturbing, but ultimately thought-provoking piece, one that lingers in the mind.