"Phosphene" José Parlá
Parlá draws inspiration from ocular phenomena, particularly phosphenes—the illusory colors and shapes that appear inside the eye when influenced by light, sound, or pressure. Commonly experienced when rubbing closed eyes or seeing stars, phosphenes spark forms that Parlá channels into his dynamic paintings. For him, observing the sun through the skylight of his Brooklyn studio and blinking creates spots, lines, and shifting colors that inform his energetic works. These visual sensations evoke memories—images of the city, his family and friends, and places from his past.
This catalog was published in conjunction with the PHOSPHENE exhibition at Ben Brown Fine Arts, London (October 10–November 17, 2023), exploring the themes and ideas presented in Parlá’s book Phosphene.
Product Description:
Hardcover Publication
Parlá draws inspiration from ocular phenomena, particularly phosphenes—the illusory colors and shapes that appear inside the eye when influenced by light, sound, or pressure. Commonly experienced when rubbing closed eyes or seeing stars, phosphenes spark forms that Parlá channels into his dynamic paintings. For him, observing the sun through the skylight of his Brooklyn studio and blinking creates spots, lines, and shifting colors that inform his energetic works. These visual sensations evoke memories—images of the city, his family and friends, and places from his past.
This catalog was published in conjunction with the PHOSPHENE exhibition at Ben Brown Fine Arts, London (October 10–November 17, 2023), exploring the themes and ideas presented in Parlá’s book Phosphene.
Product Description:
Hardcover Publication
Parlá draws inspiration from ocular phenomena, particularly phosphenes—the illusory colors and shapes that appear inside the eye when influenced by light, sound, or pressure. Commonly experienced when rubbing closed eyes or seeing stars, phosphenes spark forms that Parlá channels into his dynamic paintings. For him, observing the sun through the skylight of his Brooklyn studio and blinking creates spots, lines, and shifting colors that inform his energetic works. These visual sensations evoke memories—images of the city, his family and friends, and places from his past.
This catalog was published in conjunction with the PHOSPHENE exhibition at Ben Brown Fine Arts, London (October 10–November 17, 2023), exploring the themes and ideas presented in Parlá’s book Phosphene.
Product Description:
Hardcover Publication
