Kool the owl perched on a branch against a blue background.

Kool: Snowy Owl

(Horizontal Deep Blue)

by Robert Wilson

Introducing "Kool: Snowy Owl (Horizontal Blue)" by renowned American artist Robert Wilson, a captivating piece that graces the lobby of Hotel Columbia in Telluride, this artwork immerses viewers in an enchanting visual experience.

Robert Wilson, an internationally acclaimed director, performer, and video artist, brings a rich tapestry of influences to "Kool: Snowy Owl (Horizontal Blue)." Drawing inspiration from Greek mythology, the piece references the owl associated with Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The “Owl of Athena” has been a symbol of knowledge and discernment throughout the Western world. Wilson's video portraits seamlessly blend mythology, art history, and popular culture, creating a symbolic representation of knowledge and discernment.

Originally presented in 2013 at ONASSIS STEGI, in Athens, Greece, Wilson's series of 43 video portraits, including "Kool, Snowy Owl (Horizontal Blue)," transcends traditional artistic boundaries. These works synthesize film, theater, painting, and music, offering a contemporary exploration of conveying and perceiving images. As Wilson describes it, this series serves as a document of our time—a collection of what he calls “a document of our time. They are what I call portraits.” These worlds, which unfurl themselves on endless loops, are inhabited by artists, animals, intellectuals, actors, and roles, and are characterized by colors of exceptional clarity and psychedelic intensity, long duration, suggestive texts, and distinctive music scores.

"Kool, Snowy Owl (Horizontal Blue)" takes its place in the permanent collection at Hotel Columbia, engaging with visitors in a constant, almost commonplace interaction. Now, as a cherished part of Hotel Columbia's artistic landscape, this masterpiece continues to captivate and inspire, inviting guests to explore the intersection of tradition, symbolism, and contemporary artistic expression. Experience the allure of "Kool: Snowy Owl (Horizontal Blue)" as it transforms the lobby into a space where art and imagination seamlessly converge.

65-minute high-definition looped video portrait on dedicated screen, 2006.
57 in. x 33 in. mounted above fireplace in lobby common area.

Cozy seating area with fireplace, TV above, modern decor in a lobby setting.
A snowy owl with piercing yellow eyes against a blue background.
A cozy Hotel Columbia Telluride room with sofas, a fireplace, and a TV displaying an owl.
Robert Wilson is resting his face on his hands, with a dark, blurred background.

About the Artist:

Robert Wilson

American b.1941

Robert Wilson is one of the rare artists who works across artistic media without being buoyed by one method of making. The process of creation transcends a single medium and instead finds outlet within the archetype of an opera, the architecture of a building, the stains in a watercolor drawing, the design of a chair, the choreography of a dance, the rhythm of a sonnet, or the multiple dynamics revealed in a Video Portrait.

By incorporating a multitude of creative elements; lighting, costume, make up, choreography, gesture, text, voice, set design, and narrative – the video portraits act as a complete synthesis of all the media in the realm of Wilson’s art making. The canvas or High Definition (HD) screen is one thing, blending the environmental and spatial aspects of a stage with a new sensibility for Wilson’s direction. The medium is HD video but the form blurs time-based cinematography with the frozen moment of still photography. As in the layering nature of Wilson’s creative process, the video portraits infuse references found in painting, sculpture, design, architecture, dance, theater, photography, television, film and contemporary culture. The final result on the HD monitor resembles a photograph, but on closer inspection reveals Wilson’s highly developed theatrical language in conjunction with the startling clarity and precision of HD video.

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Photo: Bob Wilson, Francisco Ubilla, from El Pais.
Video: shared from Robert Wilson Facebook.