KCR Autumn 2023 FINAL low res - Flipbook - Page 17
José Parlá
Phosphene
New York-based Cuban artist José Parlá unveils an exhilarating and poignant exhibition drawing on recurring themes in his practice, including
urban space, human markings, memory, and energy. The signi昀cance of these works lies, in part, from their inspiration following the artist9s neardeath experience with Covid (2021).
Parlá9s Phosphene series began while the artist spent time in his hometown of Miami, Florida, during what was meant to be a brief period of respite
between his schedule of exhibitions around the world. There, surrounded by nature and brilliant sunlight, the artist began to experiment with
painting outdoors - a stark contrast to his industrial studio in Brooklyn - using the sun to elucidate the abstract visual language in his mind. This
exhibition takes its title from the visual phenomenon that gives the impression of seeing light with eyes closed. Appearing as 昀ashes of colourful
light, such as dots, swirls or shapes that wander slowly across a person9s vision, the term 8phosphene9 is derived from Greek phMs 8light9 + phainein
8to show9.
For Parlá9s new body of work, the meditative sensation of letting the sun brie昀y penetrate his retina, producing an e昀ect of hues, images and shapes
appearing behind closed lids, was immediately translated to his paintings, creating mysterious, evocative landscapes of light and shadow. His
intricately layered, seemingly asemic calligraphy, suggestive of optic nerves or arterial threads, is charged with obscured words and phrases, carriers
of meaning in each work.
This exhibition further
explores his gestural, instinctual practice of calligraphy as a meditative, rhythmic process to his subconscious and interiority, the layers of
inscrutable writing imbuing his paintin gs with both light and depth. The movement in the work is also re昀ective of the unique symbiosis Parlá experiences between sound and colour, listening to music as he paints to create a unique visual language, a form of
synesthesia.
11 October 3 17 November 2023 Ben Brown Fine Arts
12 Brook9s Mews, London W1K 4DG
www.benbrown昀nearts.com
Image: José Parlá, Layered Electric Retinal Waves, 2023, Mixed media on canvas, 182.9 x 243.8 cm; (72 x 96 in.)