Atelier Van Lieshout
Predatory, Wise and Persistent, 2021
Artwork Brief Description
This trio of avian sculptures—a vulture, owl, and eagle—embody political and philosophical themes. The birds symbolize opportunism, wisdom, and power, forming a modern allegory akin to Japan’s “See No Evil” monkeys. The work critiques political structures and human nature while seamlessly blending into the lush garden surroundings.
Atelier Van Lieshout is an art collective founded in 1995 by Dutch artist Joep Van Lieshout, known for his multidisciplinary and provocative approach. The collective's work spans sculpture, design and architecture, exploring themes of self-sufficiency, utopia, society and sustainability, often with an ironic and daring visual language.
In 2000, Atelier Van Lieshout participated in the 4th edition of Arte all'Arte with the project Atelier des Armes et des Bombes, presented in Montalcino. The work, faithful to the poetics of the collective, investigated the relationship between art, society and instruments of conflict, transforming the historical and cultural context of the place into a ground for critical reflection.
Atelier Van Lieshout is now internationally recognised for its ability to combine art and functionality, challenging conventions and proposing alternative visions of contemporary living.
Atelier Van Lieshout Predatory, Wise and Persistent, 2021
Predatory, Wise, and Persistent are represented in the form of an eagle, an owl, and a vulture, who are dispersed amongst the luscious vegetation of the Heller garden, guardians of their surroundings. These three heraldic birds were created by the Atelier Van Lieshout, founded by Joep van Lieshout. In his practice, Van Liesthout seeks to find the boundaries between fantasy and function, between fertility and destruction.
When viewed together they are like the trio of monkey’s from Japan; see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. According to Van Liesehout, “They don’t represent the morality of an ideal state, but reflect the reality of politics where the three forces interact.”
The first bird we encounter in the garden is the owl, a bird of prey with many allegorical ties. Perched at the edge of a small pond, the owl is synonymous in Western culture for its wisdom, power, justice, and divinity. In Greek mythology, the owl was the primary symbol of Athens, and the symbol of a little owl was used to represent Athena, the virgin goddess of wisdom. Images of owls were reproduced on many vases, prize amphora and even the currency, the drachma. Van Lieshout’s owl has a very stern appearance, with its claws gripping tightly into the ground below, deterring all who cross the water in vain.
The eagle is perhaps the most frequently employed of all the heraldic birds, a symbol of strength, freedom, and courage. The Heller Garden’s eagle stands proud and appears very regal. The eagle as a symbol appears in an array of coats of arms and country flags from Namibia to Panama. In ancient times, it was employed in the Holy Roman Empire, known as the “Aquila,” and used as a symbol of Imperial power. There is a grace and elegance to this eagle, who, cast in bronze, stands strong for all to admire.
The smallest of the sculptures is the vulture. Its hunched appearance suggests that it is preparing for a moment of weakness from its prey before it can attack. According to Van Lieshout, whilst the “vulture’s opportunism is a considerably less attractive trait…..it is complementary to the other two”. Choosing to depict such an ugly and controversial creature is provocative and playful and key to Van Lieshout’s practice. Their aim is to dissect systems, be it society as a whole or the human body; they experiment, look for alternatives, and take exhibitions as experiments for recycling.