Phosphene, an exciting exhibition of new works by New York-based Cuban artist José Parlá will take place at Ben Brown Fine Arts’ flagship London gallery from 11 October to 17 November 2023 coinciding with Frieze London.
This will be the artist’s second solo exhibition in the Mayfair space, following his highly acclaimed Echo of Impressions show in 2018. Phosphene forms the second part of a comprehensive exhibition that was preceded by earlier paintings from this series at our Hong Kong gallery in March 2023.
“Through ‘Phosphene’ I envision a community of memories to both stimulate and provoke questions in the imaginations of those looking at my paintings. This is a universal language for all human beings, so that it unifies, not separates, us.”
José Parlá
The work was inspired by the artist’s near-death experience with Covid in 2021, drawing on recurring themes in his practice, including urban space, human markings, memory and energy.
Parlá’s 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 flashes of colourful light, such as dots, swirls or shapes that wander slowly across a person’s vision, the term ‘phosphene’ is derived from Greek phōs ‘light’ + phainein ‘to show’.
Phosphene is comprised of eleven pulsating works executed during this fertile period of en plein air painting, which build upon the experimental phenomenon of retinal closed-eye hallucinations and conjure complex memory abstractions as a dense maze of paints and textures.
The works continue Parlá’s lifelong dialogue with the urban subconscious, the tempo and flow of the streets, and musical inspirations such as his roots in the conception days of Hip Hop culture. Furthermore, they are imbued with a quiet yet powerful spirit of survival that calls us to consider notions of legacy, ownership, and the imprints we leave behind.
The Exhibition Phosphene runs 11 October to 17 November 2023 at Ben Brown Fine Arts London gallery.
