Ostricart 1968

Curator: I find myself immediately drawn to the somewhat precarious, and perhaps even slightly absurd, composition of this pen and ink drawing. Editor: Indeed! Let’s delve into this 1968 work by Ellen Lanyon titled "Ostricart". Lanyon often combined disparate images and symbols, encouraging a re-evaluation of conventional contexts. Here, she has seemingly fused human ingenuity and natural power in the most unexpected way. Curator: The interplay between the ostrich, yoked in a harness like some fantastical beast of burden, and the stylishly hatted driver presents an intriguing tension. What social commentary do you perceive within this peculiar juxtaposition of nature and culture? Editor: To me, it reflects on themes of exploitation and the subjugation of nature for human advancement. The ostrich, an exotic symbol of the wild, is here yoked, performing labour under human direction. One can almost hear echoes of colonial narratives, of imposing order on perceived chaos. Curator: But consider how precisely the linework articulates the texture of the ostrich's plumage. There is an undeniable elegance in how Lanyon balances light and dark to bring three-dimensionality and movement to the piece. The intricate patterns created with the pen capture the very essence of the ostrich’s form, drawing the eye into a mesmerising play of details. Editor: Your analysis astutely redirects my attention toward formal elements. Looking at the confident pose of the driver though, I think it invites us to question hierarchies and systems of control, as relevant today as they were during Lanyon's time. Perhaps this work presents a wider allegory of power. Curator: Thank you, it makes you think about that interplay in a completely different way, but it really draws us back to what could have influenced this artist and maybe the message in her creation. Editor: This artwork makes you question the conventional and rethink narratives within both art and social circles.