Charles Cohen: a thought to absence

   Charles Cohen is a digital media artist that plays with various methods of the art. One of his most influence methods includes the use of absence, created using erasure. Cohen seems to have studied art all his educated life. In 1990 he received his BA at the University of Chicago and moved on to study abroad at the Royal College of Art in London. In 1995 he attended the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating with a Master of Fine arts with honors. Finally from 1997 to 1999 he participated in the Core Fellowship Program at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.

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   Cohen exhibits his photography skills within his work, creating the artistic spin he desires later with digital technique. Some of his most profound work features the idea of absence. Both collections, titled Buff (1999-2005) and Analogtime (2002-2005), display an erasure technique where the human form is taken from the photograph. The result is only an outline.
   Within "Buff" pornographic scenes are the focus. Yet, would they really be considered pornographic after removing the detailed human image? It is intriguing to put a critical eye and mind to these works. The body is not present within the scene, but a distinct outline continues to reveal the intention. The viewer is left to complete the meaning of the work and it seems hard not to. Most have seen the human naked form and so the mind's eye automatically fills the voided space with detail. The absence of the erotic image may leave one to look beyond the original intention and interpret the beauty of the image in a new light. On the other hand, "Analogtime" depicts simple romantic scenes. In all three of it's images, the women is the void figure. Many interpretations can be placed with this collection, but the photographs have an undeniable sentimental feel attached to them, one of loss. The art piece above is an example of such loss. Not only is the women not returning the man's embrace, but the background takes up most of the piece, creating a notion of distance.
   In terms of critiquing the work of Charles Cohen, I can safely say I have none. I only lightly dable in the arts and therefore can only view his images as does the mass. I believe his work with the technique of erasure allows the viewer to interpret the meaning at their own discretion, which is why I consider this idea to be genius. The artist has sent a message, goal accomplished.

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