Conference 

Editor: Here we have Etienne Reo’s "Conference," created with pencil, print, and drawing techniques. It reminds me a bit of a secret meeting taking place in the dead of night, but amongst owls. What do you see in this piece? Curator: You know, the idea of a nocturnal assembly of owls just tickles my fancy! Looking at it, I am struck by this muted color palette, which is predominantly brown with subtle blue hints, gives the scene an ancient, almost sepia-toned quality. But does this work scream “wisdom” to you? Editor: I hadn't thought about "wisdom," more like… intense scrutiny? Curator: Scrutiny, yes! I feel each bird’s piercing gaze holds a story or secret. I sense an otherworldly quality. Given Reo’s style here, I also see the artist experimenting and maybe failing, perhaps hinting at themes of decay, obsolescence, or the relentless march of time. Does that click with your 'secret meeting' interpretation? Editor: Absolutely! There's something about their rough depiction that suggests hidden knowledge or perhaps forgotten rituals. And I noticed they seem to lack eyes; does this indicate a figurative loss of vision? Curator: You're sharp! Could it hint at something ominous, like blind leaders? What’s remarkable, and adds to the ambiguity, is the tension between the representational – the owls, clearly – and the more abstract, the sketchy background and seemingly unfinished line work. The result is that, paradoxically, what begins in ugliness quickly turns to beauty and a more complicated whole! Editor: So, perhaps the imperfection and decay contribute to the work's unique and rather haunting beauty. Curator: Precisely. Reo transforms potential flaws into strengths, and in the process urges us to embrace them.