KOOL, Snowy Owl, Blue is one Robert Wilson’s video portraits, an idea he first explored in the 1970s and returned to in 2004. In addition to animals, the subjects of these portraits include actors, musicians, and other public figures who at first appear static but make subtle movements over the course of the video. The careful consideration of lighting, scenery, and sometimes sound and costumes, integrates the many media in which Wilson has worked, such as theatre scenic design, architecture, and film.

Presenting portraits as video challenges the concept of portraits as static representations. The temporal nature of video parallels the experience of viewers, who can control how long they watch, but whose experience is guided by quiet movements within the work.