Dissolving Realities
PETER COHEN
Peter Cohen, a Johannesburg-based architect and artist, operates his own architectural practice, specializing in modern dwellings infused with a vision of curated domestic spaces. Amidst the global pandemic in 2020, Cohen, driven to explore artistic expression beyond architecture, delved into abstract and figurative imagery across various mediums during his off-hours from his architectural endeavors. Initially resourceful, Cohen crafted intricate landscapes on spare floorboards and heavy brown paper. His predominantly monochromatic oeuvre navigates themes of built and natural landscapes, classical antiquity, and art history, characterized by precise marks occasionally evoking a pixelated surface.
In Dissolving Realities, Cohen manipulates visual elements to prompt
viewers to investigate the reliability of memory and its role in shaping
individual and collective experiences. The artist achieves this through
the act of dissolution – creating layered daydreams out of commonplace
scenery where reality loses its definition, inside and outside become
interchangeable and memory and truth are mirrored distortions.
Cohen’s artistic practice is a meticulous examination of the interplay between interior and exterior spaces and how this shifts our understanding of reality. Through a methodical layering process, he constructs environments that challenge conventional understandings of spatial dynamics and the nature of human perception. Building upon the themes explored in his previous presentation, City of Remembered Futures, Cohen continues to use unlikely elements that relate to interiors or the natural world in conjunction with cityscapes.
Synchronicity (painting the sky blue) (2024)
Charcoal, ink, charcoal & sepia dusting powder with watercolour on paper
Unique Work
99.7 x 70.5 cm
R 35 000 VAT Incl. Framed
Fragments (After Reality left) (2024)
Charcoal, ink, charcoal & sepia dusting powder with watercolour on paper
Unique Work
99.7 x 70.5 cm
R 35 000 VAT Incl. Framed
Not really (T)here (2024)
Charcoal, ink, charcoal & sepia dusting powder with watercolour on paper
Unique Work
99.7 x 70.5 cm
R 35 000 VAT Incl. Framed
Absence (Presence) (2024)
Charcoal, ink, charcoal & sepia dusting powder with watercolour on paper
Unique Work
99.7 x 70.5 cm
R 35 000 VAT Incl. Framed
Walking the halls (Dreaming of forest) (2024)
Charcoal, ink, charcoal & sepia dusting powder with watercolour on paper
Unique Work
99.7 x 70.5 cm
R 35 000 VAT Incl. Framed
Desaturation [Out of office] (2024)
Charcoal, ink, charcoal & sepia dusting powder, digital print & watercolour on paper
Unique Work
99.7 x 70.5 cm
R 35 000 VAT Incl. Framed
End (of the) Street (2024)
Charcoal, ink, charcoal & sepia dusting powder, digital print & watercolour on paper
Unique Work
99.7 x 70.5 cm
R 35 000 VAT Incl. Framed
[Looking towards the past (Imagining the present)] (2024)
Charcoal, ink, charcoal & sepia dusting powder, digital print & watercolour on paper
Unique Work
99.7 x 70.5 cm
R 35 000 VAT Incl. Framed
In his latest geometric offerings Peter explores the cross-sectionalities between two dimensional and three dimensional form, considering how they relate to one’s lived environment. He does this by means of digital illustrations, traditional hand drawing and cyanotype on paper.
Founded in 1842 by Sir John F. W. Herschel cyanotype is a UV light sensitive/dependent process of exposing film negatives and or found objects on any coated surface. It was originally intended for the reproduction use of technical drawings i.e. Blueprints. As such the 5 works born from Peter’s explorations are a combination of mediums resulting in quintessential examples of when old meets new, digital meets analogue, and hence have since been dubbed The Blueprint Series – which will be presented alongside sculptural works and works on paper.
Blueprint: Figure 1 (2024)
Cyanotype with ink & charcoal drawing, watercolour & collage using 20 gsm Gampi natural
69 x 52.8 cm
R 20 550 VAT Incl. Framed
Blueprint: Figure 2 (2024)
Cyanotype with pencil, ink & charcoal drawing, charcoal & sepia dusting powder, watercolour & soft pastel
69 x 52.8 cm
R 20 550 VAT Incl. Framed
Blueprint: Figure 3 (2024)
Cyanotype with ink & charcoal drawing, charcoal & sepia dusting powder, watercolour & collage using 20 gsm woodgrain printed Gampi
69 x 52.8 cm
R 20 550 VAT Incl. Framed
Peter Cohen
Blueprint: Figure 4 (2024)
Cyanotype with ink & charcoal drawing, charcoal & sepia dusting powder, watercolour & collage using 20 gsm white Gampi
69 x 52.8 cm
R 20 550 VAT Incl. Framed
Blueprint: Figure 5 (2024)
Cyanotype with ink & charcoal drawing with charcoal and sepia dusting powder
69 x 52.8 cm
R 20 550 VAT Incl. Framed
City of Disconnected Certainties III (2023)
Charcoal powder monotype with hand drawn pronto lithography on Hahnemuhle Natural white 300 gsm
42.9 x 31.9 cm
R 16 000 VAT incl. framed
City of Disconnected Certainties I (2023)
Charcoal powder monotype with hand drawn pronto lithography on Hahnemuhle Natural white 300 gsm
42.4 x 31.9 cm
R 16 000 VAT incl. framed
City of Memories I (2023)
Charcoal monotype ghostprint on Hahnemuhle Natural white 300 gsm
49 x 34.8 cm
R 16 000 VAT incl. framed
City of Hidden Figures (2023)
Charcoal drawing
65 x 50 cm
R 21 160 VAT incl. framed
City of Forgotten Destinies (2023)
Charcoal drawing
65 x 50 cm
R 21 160 VAT incl. framed
City of Remembered Futures (2023)
Charcoal drawing
65 x 50 cm
R 21 160 VAT incl. framed
City of Stolen Voices (2023)
Charcoal drawing
65 x 50 cm
R 21 160 VAT incl. framed
The Dreams of Men I (2023)
Charcoal m0notype with hand drawn pronto lithography & hand work on Hahnemuhle Natural white 300 gsm
59.2 x 41 cm
R 16 000 VAT incl. framed
The Dreams of Men II (2023)
Digital & hand drawn pronto lithography with charcoal monotype & hand work on Hahnemuhle Natural white 300 gsm
48 x 32.8 cm
R 16 000 VAT incl. framed
Mixed Bunch (2022)
Linocut with oil-based monotype
Edition of 5
112 x 76 cm
R 24 000 VAT incl. framed
Mixed Bunch in Blue (2022)
Linocut with soft pastel hand work on black paper
91 x 71 cm
R 35 000 VAT incl. framed
Landscape # 4 (2022)
Acrylic, charcoal & soft pastel on brown paper
127 x 100 cm
R 40 000 VAT Incl. Framed
Landscape # 5 (2022)
Acrylic, charcoal & soft pastel on brown paper
127 x 100 cm
R 40 000 VAT Incl. Framed
Landscape # 6 (2022)
Acrylic, charcoal & soft pastel on brown paper
127 x 100 cm
R 40 000 VAT Incl. Framed
Still life with pear (2021)
Acrylic, charcoal & soft pastel on brown paper
127 x 100 cm
R 40 000 VAT Incl. Framed
Tapestry # 4 (2022)
Acrylic, charcoal & soft pastel on brown paper
127 x 100 cm
R 40 000 VAT Incl. Framed
When Old Meets New: The Iterative Works of Peter Cohen
