|
Arthur Cohen embarrasses himself with flare. His exhibition "Just wanna be cool." includes four monumental self portraits. From "The Avenger" a ridiculous and foppish self-portrayal prancing about in a silver jump suit and boxing gear to the hysterical and disturbing "London Calling" in which the artist is attempting to stuff his big feet into ill sized Helmut Lang shoes; Cohen has brilliantly captured a perverse ethos of age in denial. And what could be more appropriate for this veteran artist, whose skill is clearly apparent in the slick rich surfaces of these figurative studies of desperation for acceptance coupled with a cringe of self loathing. The large figures twisting and twirling have some visual lineage to Robert Longo's stoic and suited figures from the nineteen-eighties, but beyond the monumental and figurative relationship, all resemblance ends. Cohen's grotesque humor at first comes across as a one liner. The images and emotional residue tap into our cultural anxiety of growing old. And if we're lucky each of us may have the opportunity to walk in those (Helmut Lang) shoes. What a prospect that is, in North America; where increasing age implies a decrease in human value. Our cultural obsession with everything young and the near invisibility of our elders exemplifies this attitude. Cohen's work doesn't appear to decry youth; instead he captures the ridiculous and pathetic caricature of the elderly and glorifies it. Instead of the pathetic catch phrase "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up." he includes as his "artist statement" a little limerick. It's easier to admire your shoes when you hold them in your hands. Cohen's poetic artist statement summed up his sensibility for humor and
pathos, glamour in the gutter and the wisdom to look, laugh and celebrate
a life being lived now, rather than the remorse and regret of reflection
on a youth lost. By Andrew Cornell Robinson Exhibition Information:Arthur Cohen - "Just wanna be cool" October 14-November 13, 2005 Jack the Pelican |
 Arthur Cohen "London Calling" 2004 oil on canvas 102" x 102"  Arthur Cohen The Avenger, 2005 oil on canvas 102" x 102"  Arthur Cohen Narcissus, 2004 oil on canvas 102" x 102" Images courtesy of Jack the Pelican |
