Acid Dreams: Nigel Cooke at Andrea Rosen

The teeth, ghoulish clowns, and swirling acid-colored brushstrokes in Nigel Cooke's imagery could trigger a field day for any dream interpreter. But as he walked a group of viewers through his newly-opened show at Andrea Rosen Gallery this morning, the artist made clear that his half-reality, half-fantasy tableaux were not inspired by dream sequences but they were rather mocking the repressed subconscious. Making use of riotous color, emotion-laden brushstrokes, and non-sensical images like anthropomorphic flowers smoking cigarettes, his compositions might even verge on the Sublime. Cooke himself described his process to the game of telephone––works often begin with an idea that develops into other ideas through associations that might not be connected to the original concept. The seven-painting show opens tonight at Andrea Rosen, and this one's not to miss.

Nigel Cooke at Andrea Rosen runs through May 12, 2012.

ANDREA ROSEN GALLERY
525 W. 24th St
New York, NY 10011
MAP
Spring (2012)


Spring (2012)

Dreaming Head (2011)

Nature Loves You (2011-2012)

Detail

Detail

Detail of Lovers with Clown Storm (2011-2012)

Tree Engulfed by Waves (2011-2012)

Nigel discussing his work at this morning's preview