Above Installation view Flowers, Cork Street
Cover Octet 2011 Acrylic on linen, 137 x 167.5 cm
B E R N A R D CO H E N 8 0 T H B I R T H DAY E X H I B I T I O N 2 2 M AY – 2 2 J U N E 2 0 1 3
Bernard Cohen will turn 80 this y e a r. I n c e l e b r a t i o n F l o w e r s Gallery are pleased to announce a fo r t h c o m i n g e x h i b i t i o n o f his paintings spanning 1961 – 2013. The selection reflects h i s d evo t i o n t o c o n s i s t e n t l y subjecting the medium of painting to challenging and t h o u g h t - p r ovo k i n g m e t h o d s o f d eve l o p m e n t i n a p r o c e ss t h a t c o n t i n u e s t o t h i s d a y. F LOW E R S 2 1 CO R K S T R E E T LO N D O N W 1 S 3 L Z
Swarm II 2004 Acrylic on linen 183 x 244 cm AFG 36916
Study 1 2008 Acrylic on linen 101.5 x 126.5 cm AFG 45218
Place Games 2013 Acrylic on linen 137 x 167.5 cm AFG 51163
Octet 2011 Acrylic on linen 137 x 167.5 cm AFG 48761
Moving Away 1992 Acrylic on linen 183 x 183 cm AFG 27538
Untitled 1961 Oil on canvas 15.5 x 23 cm AFG 28744
Pictorial II 2001 Oil on linen 127 x 102 cm AFG 32833
Pulse 1966 Acrylic on canvas 91.5 x 91.5 cm AFG 46104
Untitled (Study for ‘Red’) 1965 Oil on canvas 16 x 26 cm AFG 51230
Throughout the 1960’s Cohen’s painting practice went through a ’campaign of e x p l o r a t i o n a n d i n ve n t i o n [ … ] c h a l l e n g i n g h i s o w n a ss u m p t i o n s a b o u t w h a t a p a i n t i n g c o u l d b e a n d d o’ . I n 1 9 6 6 h e w a s c h o s e n t o e x h i b i t a l o n g s i d e R o b y n D e n n y, R i c h a r d Smith, Harold Cohen and Anthony Caro a t t h e Ve n i c e B i e n n a l e . F l o w e r s G a l l e r y acknowledged this era of Cohen’s work by e x h i b i t i n g a s u r ve y o f t h e d e c a d e s p a i n t i n g and drawing in 2007.
Untitled #3 1963 Acrylic on canvas 91.44 x 91.44 cm AFG 43977
Untitled #1 1963 Oil and egg tempera on canvas 91.44 x 91.44 cm AFG 43975
Untitled #2 1963 Acrylic on canvas 91.44 x 91.44 cm AFG 43976
Untitled (Pink ground) 1962 Oil on canvas 20.5 x 20.5 cm AFG 51232
Untitled 1962 Oil on canvas 28 x 28 cm AFG 30113
Untitled (Study for ‘Knot’) 1962 Oil on canvas 20.5 x 23 cm AFG 51234
Study (Orange on red) 1962 Oil on canvas 20.5 x 20.5 cm AFG 51233
Untitled (Stripes) 1962 Oil on canvas 20.5 x 20.5 cm AFG 51231
Connection V 1972 Oil on linen 91 x 91 cm AFG 46630
In 1972 the Hayward Gallery hosted a r e t r o s p e c t i ve o f h i s w o r k . T h e e x h i b i t i o n ’ s first gallery comprised of 170 selected unframed drawings ‘to show the fluidity and unpredictability of his search for forms. This made a tremendously impressive overture to the paintings exhibition that followed.’
Study 2000 Oil on linen 21.5 x 30 cm AFG 38737
Seven Places 1977-79 Acrylic on linen 92 x 183 cm AFG 39314
Painting on Domestic Theme III - Processional 1979-81 Acrylic on canvas 168 x 138 cm AFG 37530
Pictures at an Exhibition 2003 Acrylic on linen 65.5 x 65.5 cm AFG 35991
Study 2 2008 Acrylic on linen 101.5 x 126.5 cm AFG 45219
With the later works however (by which I mean from the Nineties onward), I can speak as a contemporary witness, and I don’t think I am overstating the case if I claim for them a relevance to this age that is sadly lacking in so much contemporary art. Here is an art that stands up four square as an intellectually rigorous practice and it demands to be considered. Ian McKay 2009
One, Two, Three, Four - 4 2004 Acrylic on linen 61 x 61 cm AFG 36861
In Black and White Time 2004 Acrylic on linen 61 x 61 cm AFG 36917
H e w a n t s h i s p a i n t s n o t t o p i l e u p p h y s i c a l l y, b u t t o s t a y c l o s e t o h i s c a n v a s s u r fa c e e v e n when visually his forms run up against or over e a c h o t h e r. [ ‌ ] T h e a i m , a l w a y s , i s c l a r i t y. W e spectators are free to look at a path for it. N o r b e r t Ly n t o n 2 0 0 9
Installation view Flowers, Cork Street
Prospect 1966 - 2006 Acrylic on canvas 91.5 x 91.5 x 4 cm AFG 40308
Untitled 1965 Acrylic on canvas 61 x 40.7 cm AFG 49609
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