The art of waiting

Robert Wilson, Kool: Snowy Owl, 2006 (Horizontal Blue), edition 2 of 2, Music by Carl Maria von Weber, arranged by Peter Cerone, 65΄ HD Video

Kool: Snowy Owl, 2006 (Horizontal Blue), part of the “Video Portraits” series, blends Robert Wilson’s mastery of opera direction, painting, choreography, and set, lighting, and sound design. Fittingly, the musical score is composed by one of the greatest orchestrators in history, Carl Maria von Weber. The high-definition video offers depth and clarity to the moving image, allowing it to mimic a theater stage, which in turn mimics real life. Owl symbolized wisdom for ancient Greeks, while the Snowy Owl is a rare species that can be active day and night, just like the work that plays on a loop. Kool, used in the title, is an obsolete word that means ‘to pay attention with your eyes’ but also echoes the sound the animal makes. To notice the owl’s slight movements, you must stand still long enough to grasp how subtly yet focused it goes through life. As the artist calls these portraits “a document of our time,” this work serves as a visual representation of life.

“Robert Wilson is a towering figure in experimental theater and an explorer of time and space on stage.”—The New York Times

Born in Waco, Texas, Robert Wilson is a leading theater and visual artist known for his innovative integration of dance, movement, lighting, sculpture, music, and text. His productions, praised worldwide for their aesthetic and emotional power, feature collaborators such as Heiner Müller, Tom Waits, Susan Sontag, Laurie Anderson, William Burroughs, Lou Reed, Jessye Norman, and Anna Calvi. Wilson’s works include acclaimed productions of Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera, and Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata. His drawings, paintings, and sculptures have been shown globally. Wilson has received numerous awards, including a Pulitzer Prize nomination, Premio Ubu awards, and the Golden Lion of the Venice Biennale. He is a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters and an Officer of the Legion of Honour.

Discover more about Robert Wilson.

In 2013, Robert Wilson presented 43 video portraits at Onassis Stegi, blending film, theater, painting, and music to explore how contemporary screens act as “windows” to other worlds. These looping portraits, featuring artists, animals, intellectuals, and actors, are noted for their vivid colors, evocative texts, and unique music. Wilson described them as “a document of our time” and “portraits.” Notable works like Juliette Binoche, Isabella Rossellini, and Kool, Snowy Owl (Horizontal Blue) are part of the Onassis Collection. During the exhibition, Wilson showcased his aesthetic universe through a performance reflecting his creative process. In 2017, Wilson returned to Onassis Stegi within the framework of the Athens Epidaurus Festival, presenting Letter to a Man with Mikhail Baryshnikov. The performance examined Vaslav Nijinsky’s psychological struggles and artistic legacy, guided by Wilson’s direction and Baryshnikov’s powerful portrayal, offering an emotionally charged experience.