Ira Cohen: The Mylar Series

In today’s post, I would like to share with you the work of Ira Cohen, which is a source of inspiration for me and my free project. Ira Cohen’s most iconic works are his Mylar images which he created in the late '60s in his loft on the Lower East Side, New York City. (October Gallery, no date)

What I love most is the way the photographer works with shapes, light, and color. Ira Cohen's artistic practice involved capturing images using a polyester film surface technique called mylar. This technique produced photographs that showcased distorted figures and mirrored shapes, creating an illusionary effect within his art. (Cara, no date)  I think this is quite a useful technique for my project because I want to play with the shapes of the objects and the composition in general. 

His work Alien Intelligent, in my opinion, reveals a deep study of the human psyche and a deep understanding of the power of images. The blue color scheme of the photo radiates cold and at the same time a special otherworldly appeal. The very creation of pink and blue gives an alien atmosphere. From the composition do not want to take your eyes off, because in some way it looks like a blue flame that forms a face of unusual shape. 


Alien Intelligence
From the Mylar series by Ira Cohen 
1967 

The photo below has its charm and differs from the previous one. It still conveys a certain mystical atmosphere. However, this atmosphere is warmer due to the use of red and red colors. The photo is constructed in such a way that one person has several reflections due to the use of the motion blur effect. Due to the golden light, photography acquires a shade of luxury and playfulness, from which you do not want to take your eyes off. This game with light, color, and composition is what I would like to achieve in my project. 'Ira was a true alchemist of the word and the image'. (Graubard, no date) 


Title and Participant Unknown
by Ira Cohen

'His style was very much inspired 60's psychedelic musicals in those Andy Warhole’s (one of the founders of pop art) hay days, Cohen did become an integral part of the underground art scene.' (Das, 2015) The work of Ira Cohen was a real discovery for me. Through his photographs, he blurs the line between reality and the unconscious, giving more space to something magical. His work calls into question the inoculation forms and shows different variations of what is possible through playing with colors, light, and form.


References

https://octobergallery.co.uk/artists/cohen

https://culturacolectiva.com/en/art/photography/ira-cohen-photography/

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2019/nov/05/like-looking-through-butterfly-wings-ira-cohens-mylar-chamber-in-pictures

https://fulgur.co.uk/mylar-magic-the-photography-of-ira-cohen/

https://medium.com/design-tdv/ira-cohen-the-photographic-hallucinatory-dd645e94a0a2



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