WOVEN MEMORIES
RYAN COSBERT
LUCE GALLERY
Turin, from September 21 to November 5, 2023
Opening: Thursday, September 21, 6:30 pm. The artist will be present.
Online exhibition walkthrough video
Exhibition view, Woven Memories, Ryan Cosbert, 2023, Photo Nicola Morittu, Courtesy the artist and Luce Gallery, Turin
Luce Gallery is pleased to present Woven Memories, the second solo show by Ryan Cosbert in Turin, from September 21 to November 5, 2023.
The exhibition brings together new paintings, including canvases hand-woven with mixed fabrics and knit pieces into her signature ‘tiles’. Cosbert’s distinctive tactile abstraction serves as a conduit to convey conceptual ideas deeply rooted in Black culture. In this series, the artist takes a scientific approach to explore the legacy of intergenerational trauma stemming from slavery, segregation, and urban violence. When viewed together, the paintings in Woven Memories channel protective ‘guardians’ from traditional African sculpture, seeking to trace the origins of inherited pain while also posing critical questions around the burden of past traumas on contemporary Black individuals.
Cosbert's thought-provoking exhibition title, Woven Memories, serves as a profound reflection of her extensive exploration into the realm of epigenetics. Epigenetics delves into the study of how an individual's behaviors and environment can trigger changes that impact the functioning of their genes. This research investigates how war, famine, sexual abuse, and systemic traumas such as racism possess the potential to send ripple effects through generations. These traumas may then lead to offspring inheriting altered brain chemistry, often resulting in compromised mental health and inflammation - a fundamental contributor to various diseases. With a remarkable body of work informed by thorough investigations into both historical and modern-day events within the African Diaspora, Cosbert brings to light and vividly portrays the origins of these previously concealed afflictions. In each artwork, the artist masterfully reveals how these invisible forces are intricately interwoven at the deepest cellular level, most notably through the incorporation of found objects. Broken watch faces and gears symbolize the inexorable passage of time, and bullet casings recall the violence, while infant diapers and pacifiers poignantly remind us of the inheritance passed down to the next generation.
In her captivating tondo painting The Void (2023), Cosbert skillfully paints a luminous backdrop, luring viewers into its embrace with a palette of blush fluorescent pinks and pale minty greens. Upon closer examination, the surface of the painting reveals an intricate landscape composed of mounds of square 'tiles'. These tiles are expertly crafted from recycled materials, including pulverized plastics, crushed dried flowers, and seashells, forming a grid-like structure with textures reminiscent of coral beds. Further energizing the composition are the prominent splatter marks of paint across the surface, a homage to the abstract expressionist action-painting style. However, it is the central motif that truly captivates the observer's attention - a spiral of fallen dominos that gracefully collapses toward the heart of the painting, echoing the circular shape of the tondo. This inclusion of dominos carries profound symbolism, serving a dual purpose. First, it harks back to their historical significance as objects of leisure deeply intertwined with African-American culture, dating back to the era of the American Civil War. Second, it embodies the concept of the figurative "domino effect".
For Cosbert, this spiraling motion symbolizes the transfer of trauma, a force that affects individuals at various stages of life, relentless and inevitable. The dominos represent an unstoppable and interconnected chain reaction, much like the unfolding consequences of generational trauma. In this painting, the artist compels us to confront the unyielding nature of this force, urging us to acknowledge and grapple with the enduring legacy of trauma that shapes our lives.
Nevertheless, amidst even somber reflections, there is always a ray of hope. Just as epigenetic changes do not irreversibly alter one's DNA sequence, Cosbert artfully reminds the viewer that familial traumas need not permanently shape their life trajectory. Her artistic objective lies in imparting knowledge and nurturing the healing process for the profound ancestral wounds that persist. Through her work, she seeks to empower individuals with the strength to confront and transcend the burdens of the past, ultimately fostering a brightly-hued path towards healing and transformation.
The exhibition walkthrough video is online at www.lucegallery.com/video.php.
Ryan Cosbert 1999, New York, United States) is a Brooklyn-based African-American conceptual artist working in abstraction. Her work draws from her Haitian and Guyanese heritage, humanistic experiences, self-expression, political issues, and rigorously researched historical narratives of the African diaspora. Through her artistic practice, she skillfully explores the repercussions of subjugation and oppression experienced by the Black community, often shedding light on overlooked Black historical figures, shared experiences, and profound beliefs. Cosbert graduated with a BFA in 2021 from the prestigious School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City, where she distinguished herself, receiving multiple honors, including the Barnes Foundation Scholarship (2021) and the Chairman’s Merit Award (2017-21). Cosbert has exhibited throughout the United States and Europe. Additionally, her work has been acquired by numerous private collections and public institutions.
Woven Memories - Ryan Cosbert
Luce Gallery
Turin, from September 21 to November 5, 2023
Opening: Thursday, September 21, 6:30 pm. The artist will be present
Largo Montebello 40, Italy
Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 3:00 - 7:00 pm
+39 011 18890206 / info@lucegallery.com / Instagram: lucegallery
Online videos featuring exhibition walkthroughs: www.lucegallery.com/video.php
Press Office: THE KNACK STUDIO / Tamara Lorenzi
tamara@theknackstudio.com / +39 347 0712934
info@theknackstudio.com / www.theknackstudio.com
WOVEN MEMORIES
RYAN COSBERT
LUCE GALLERY
Turin, from September 21 to November 5, 2023
Opening: Thursday, September 21, 6:30 pm. The artist will be present.
Online exhibition walkthrough video
Exhibition view, Woven Memories, Ryan Cosbert, 2023, Photo Nicola Morittu, Courtesy the artist and Luce Gallery, Turin
Luce Gallery is pleased to present Woven Memories, the second solo show by Ryan Cosbert in Turin, from September 21 to November 5, 2023.
The exhibition brings together new paintings, including canvases hand-woven with mixed fabrics and knit pieces into her signature ‘tiles’. Cosbert’s distinctive tactile abstraction serves as a conduit to convey conceptual ideas deeply rooted in Black culture. In this series, the artist takes a scientific approach to explore the legacy of intergenerational trauma stemming from slavery, segregation, and urban violence. When viewed together, the paintings in Woven Memories channel protective ‘guardians’ from traditional African sculpture, seeking to trace the origins of inherited pain while also posing critical questions around the burden of past traumas on contemporary Black individuals.
Cosbert's thought-provoking exhibition title, Woven Memories, serves as a profound reflection of her extensive exploration into the realm of epigenetics. Epigenetics delves into the study of how an individual's behaviors and environment can trigger changes that impact the functioning of their genes. This research investigates how war, famine, sexual abuse, and systemic traumas such as racism possess the potential to send ripple effects through generations. These traumas may then lead to offspring inheriting altered brain chemistry, often resulting in compromised mental health and inflammation - a fundamental contributor to various diseases. With a remarkable body of work informed by thorough investigations into both historical and modern-day events within the African Diaspora, Cosbert brings to light and vividly portrays the origins of these previously concealed afflictions. In each artwork, the artist masterfully reveals how these invisible forces are intricately interwoven at the deepest cellular level, most notably through the incorporation of found objects. Broken watch faces and gears symbolize the inexorable passage of time, and bullet casings recall the violence, while infant diapers and pacifiers poignantly remind us of the inheritance passed down to the next generation.
In her captivating tondo painting The Void (2023), Cosbert skillfully paints a luminous backdrop, luring viewers into its embrace with a palette of blush fluorescent pinks and pale minty greens. Upon closer examination, the surface of the painting reveals an intricate landscape composed of mounds of square 'tiles'. These tiles are expertly crafted from recycled materials, including pulverized plastics, crushed dried flowers, and seashells, forming a grid-like structure with textures reminiscent of coral beds. Further energizing the composition are the prominent splatter marks of paint across the surface, a homage to the abstract expressionist action-painting style. However, it is the central motif that truly captivates the observer's attention - a spiral of fallen dominos that gracefully collapses toward the heart of the painting, echoing the circular shape of the tondo. This inclusion of dominos carries profound symbolism, serving a dual purpose. First, it harks back to their historical significance as objects of leisure deeply intertwined with African-American culture, dating back to the era of the American Civil War. Second, it embodies the concept of the figurative "domino effect".
For Cosbert, this spiraling motion symbolizes the transfer of trauma, a force that affects individuals at various stages of life, relentless and inevitable. The dominos represent an unstoppable and interconnected chain reaction, much like the unfolding consequences of generational trauma. In this painting, the artist compels us to confront the unyielding nature of this force, urging us to acknowledge and grapple with the enduring legacy of trauma that shapes our lives.
Nevertheless, amidst even somber reflections, there is always a ray of hope. Just as epigenetic changes do not irreversibly alter one's DNA sequence, Cosbert artfully reminds the viewer that familial traumas need not permanently shape their life trajectory. Her artistic objective lies in imparting knowledge and nurturing the healing process for the profound ancestral wounds that persist. Through her work, she seeks to empower individuals with the strength to confront and transcend the burdens of the past, ultimately fostering a brightly-hued path towards healing and transformation.
The exhibition walkthrough video is online at www.lucegallery.com/video.php.
Ryan Cosbert 1999, New York, United States) is a Brooklyn-based African-American conceptual artist working in abstraction. Her work draws from her Haitian and Guyanese heritage, humanistic experiences, self-expression, political issues, and rigorously researched historical narratives of the African diaspora. Through her artistic practice, she skillfully explores the repercussions of subjugation and oppression experienced by the Black community, often shedding light on overlooked Black historical figures, shared experiences, and profound beliefs. Cosbert graduated with a BFA in 2021 from the prestigious School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City, where she distinguished herself, receiving multiple honors, including the Barnes Foundation Scholarship (2021) and the Chairman’s Merit Award (2017-21). Cosbert has exhibited throughout the United States and Europe. Additionally, her work has been acquired by numerous private collections and public institutions.
Woven Memories - Ryan Cosbert
Luce Gallery
Turin, from September 21 to November 5, 2023
Opening: Thursday, September 21, 6:30 pm. The artist will be present
Largo Montebello 40, Italy
Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 3:00 - 7:00 pm
+39 011 18890206 / info@lucegallery.com / Instagram: lucegallery
Online videos featuring exhibition walkthroughs: www.lucegallery.com/video.php
Press Office: THE KNACK STUDIO / Tamara Lorenzi
tamara@theknackstudio.com / +39 347 0712934
info@theknackstudio.com / www.theknackstudio.com
