Dan Colen “The Illusion of Life”
At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
This is in fact Colen’s very first solo public exhibition in
the UK.
The work in this exhibition are being exhibited for the very
first time.
“Dan Colen is a hard artist to pin down. His works,
aesthetically, trampolines from one discipline to another” – Newspaper Article
“I spend my daily life trying to distil what art is” – Dan
Colen
These stiff static sculptures act as vessels for both
containment and concealment, and by delaying the punch line, breathe new life
into a tired old joke.
I wasn’t too sure about these pieces that had whoopee
cushions, they were all over the room, some made with glass, some plastic, it
was rather confusing yet amusing at the same time.
"Chuckles" 2013
(Chuckles bie Clown, Cardboard box reinforced with MDF, glass sphere, blue velvet ribbon, light bulbs)
Above the clown is a glass orb. This orb is a incongruously
reflective symbol reappropriated from Johannes Vermeer’s Painting “The Allegory
of Faith”
Colen sees Chuckles as a stand in for himself.
It was an interactive piece where people can crawl into the boxes,
get to either of the two ends, and at the end there is a switch, pull to turn
on the light bulb.
The space was lovely, not much artificial light, mostly natural light which links in really well with the flower paintings.
“Like a Virgin” 2013
Vintage coke bottle
Motor
This in my opinion was badly displayed.
When I walked in, I had no idea it was there, no sign or
labels indicating it was there, I could have very easily kicked it accidentally
and broke it.
We spoke to the lady supervising the room and she said that
the bottle represents a truth and dare game.
The motor allows the bottle to move occasionally
“The Illusion of life”
2013
Catalogues, Metal Pole
This was the piece of literature that inspired him to create
this artwork; this was an inspiration for him.
When I first looked at these, I had several thoughts.
It could be watercolors or food coloring.
Then I had a closer look, there were colored leaves that
were lightly stuck on, I say this because as I got closer, I blew onto the
painting and little particles of something flew off.
It looked aesthetically pleasing from up close and from a
distance.
It hinted an impressionist theme within the image. Like
light was bouncing off and through tree leaves, captured the image and painted
it on canvas
These pieces were physically delicate and finely detailed.
They are produced by hammering and smashing thousands of artificially
dyed flowers (‘Deli’ flowers and ‘Grave’ flowers of the sort commonly sold in
New York delicatessens) and roses onto unbleached Belgian Linen.
Colen “tries to let the flowers make the painting”
“I knew then that this was the place for the first flower show,” – Dan Colen
Dan Colen’s artwork here is infused with magic and joy
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