Artist Statement 2011
Dan Cohen is an Artist of the New-Renaissance. He is a classically
trained painter, sculptor, designer, muralist, writer, and philosopher.
His influences include world mythologies, quantum physics, active dreaming, the
Qabbalah and other sacred sciences. His signature elements--beautifully
rendered forms, archetypal symbolism, occult circuitry, meticulously crafted
panels and constructs--bridge the ancient and the future, thought and memory. He
currently lives and works in the Pacific Northwest, Los Angeles, and New York
City.
“One of the fundamental drives of humanity is the quest for meaning. The tantalization of a mystery, the excitement of its exploration, and the thrill of understanding is an ongoing cycle that has driven humanity for eons. Whether it is the frontiers of the wilderness, or the frontiers of spirit, man has always wanted to see what lies “beyond.” The quest to understand the meaning behind the mysteries of life forms the thematic core of my work. In this sense, I would describe my work as transpersonal -- reaching beyond the individual, concerned especially with esoteric experiences & different states of consciousness beyond the usual limits of ego and personality.
I believe it is important for any art to reflect the time it is created in, as well as to be relevant in terms of the recurring issues that humanity faces. The most prominent trend I see in our society today is that of synthesis -- the bringing together of diverse elements into a new whole. Due to the Internet, media, and the availability of varied literature, we exist in a sea of information. At no other time has a society had so many choices of “what to know.” Because of this, we gather various bits of information, which we then assemble into a new personal gestalt. The faith, art, music, and even clothing of today’s youth especially reflect this. It is through this modern filter that humanity continues to search for meaning, for the end of suffering, and for the evolvement of Consciousness. My visual language reflects this as well, knitting together different mythological systems in order to create enlightening juxtapositions of meaning.
I am for a modern art whose roots lie deep in our mythic past. I am interested in reviving the artist’s role as magus and Art’s role as magical technology. To this end, I explore Art's relationship to our psyche. Art has the ability to slip past the guardians of ego to transcend the mundane and to put us in touch with the miraculous. It can even alter the way we experience reality. Used as a tool, in tandem with ritual and meditation, it is possible to peel away the veils of 'ordinary reality' in order to unlock the hidden map of our personal psyche and our collective unconscious. I believe that it is this transpersonal map that provides the key to gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves, our world, and our place in it. If we can see ourselves and our world in a clear light, we can begin to bring both to harmonic balance.”
“One of the fundamental drives of humanity is the quest for meaning. The tantalization of a mystery, the excitement of its exploration, and the thrill of understanding is an ongoing cycle that has driven humanity for eons. Whether it is the frontiers of the wilderness, or the frontiers of spirit, man has always wanted to see what lies “beyond.” The quest to understand the meaning behind the mysteries of life forms the thematic core of my work. In this sense, I would describe my work as transpersonal -- reaching beyond the individual, concerned especially with esoteric experiences & different states of consciousness beyond the usual limits of ego and personality.
I believe it is important for any art to reflect the time it is created in, as well as to be relevant in terms of the recurring issues that humanity faces. The most prominent trend I see in our society today is that of synthesis -- the bringing together of diverse elements into a new whole. Due to the Internet, media, and the availability of varied literature, we exist in a sea of information. At no other time has a society had so many choices of “what to know.” Because of this, we gather various bits of information, which we then assemble into a new personal gestalt. The faith, art, music, and even clothing of today’s youth especially reflect this. It is through this modern filter that humanity continues to search for meaning, for the end of suffering, and for the evolvement of Consciousness. My visual language reflects this as well, knitting together different mythological systems in order to create enlightening juxtapositions of meaning.
I am for a modern art whose roots lie deep in our mythic past. I am interested in reviving the artist’s role as magus and Art’s role as magical technology. To this end, I explore Art's relationship to our psyche. Art has the ability to slip past the guardians of ego to transcend the mundane and to put us in touch with the miraculous. It can even alter the way we experience reality. Used as a tool, in tandem with ritual and meditation, it is possible to peel away the veils of 'ordinary reality' in order to unlock the hidden map of our personal psyche and our collective unconscious. I believe that it is this transpersonal map that provides the key to gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves, our world, and our place in it. If we can see ourselves and our world in a clear light, we can begin to bring both to harmonic balance.”
