Finished Work - Watcher in the Womb, for sale

 

This piece is one that I made quite a while back, but its themes still feel relevant today. Like much of my work, the inspiration came from watching world events unfold—seeing the progression of humanity, for better or worse. At the time, there was a lot of talk about Chinese surveillance drones and the increasing presence of automated observation technology. At the same time, the "birds aren't real" conspiracy theory was gaining traction, adding an almost surreal layer to discussions around government oversight and the digital panopticon we live in.

This artwork was my response, blending two ideas that were circulating in the media. On one hand, the rising discourse around drones, surveillance, and even the tongue-in-cheek paranoia about birds being government spies. On the other, reports about Japan’s struggles with population decline and the speculative conversations surrounding artificial incubation—facilities designed to grow humans to sustain their society.

I chose owls as the central figures for this piece. While any bird could have fit the "birds as drones" concept, owls struck me as particularly fitting. They have an almost mechanical presence—large, unblinking eyes, eerily precise movements, and the ability to turn their heads in a way that feels inhuman. There’s something about them that exudes intelligence but also detachment, which fits the theme of surveillance perfectly. In this piece, the main owl is not just an owl—it’s a surveillance drone, watching over its domain with an unrelenting gaze.

The scene also features a second, smaller surveillance drone—an incubating baby owl—inside a mechanical chamber. The design of its enclosure draws from the imagery of artificial wombs, similar to the pods in The Matrix. A large machine looms in the background, displaying a screen that shows the baby drone’s progress, reaching 98% maturity. The central surveillance owl watches over it expectantly, as if awaiting its activation, ready for it to begin its programmed purpose.

This piece is both a reflection and a question—about how much of our world is truly organic, about the increasing overlap between nature and machine, and about the way technology, surveillance, and control shape our existence. Rather than prescribing a definitive viewpoint, I want to evoke a sense of curiosity and contemplation, allowing the viewer to explore their own perspectives on these themes.

Now available on my store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/Ocdthreepio/shop?asc=u

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