Lynne Cohen
(1944, Racine, US - 2014, Montréal, CA)
For more than thirty years, Lynne Cohen has photographed interior spaces without characters: laboratories, spas, waiting rooms or training rooms. Their decoration, often very kitschy, can be comical, even if it helps to reinforce their intriguing, even worrying aspect. The rigorous framing, at the same distance, and the light that highlights materials and colours give these images a constructed appearance. Focusing on the imaginary element of places, sometimes with ill-defined uses, Lynne Cohen suggests a social control that is exercised diffusely.
For 30 years, the photographic work of Lynne Cohen has developed in a radical way through images of spaces of quasi-fictional appearance, where human presence is made manifest by its absence.
Rather, human presence is implied by our recognition of common objects and, above all, because it is known that all those spaces exist and are in use.
These interiors are not a figment of the artist's imagination ; they are found places.
The work of Lynne Cohen voluntarily plays within the ambiguity between ready-made and installation, between the found place and the set-up.
After her first works of a very kitsch aesthetics, and since the 1980's, Lynne Cohen orchestrates a typology of place which has become emblematic of her work : class rooms, work places, leisure spaces, rooms for military training, police schools, spas, laboratories, libraries - places to which we usually give little attention to. By isolating those places and by setting these spaces within her photographic negative, Lynne Cohen reconfigures that familiar terrain to transform it into a work of art; thus, the known terrain becomes strange to us, indeed alien.
In 1998 Lynne Cohen that had always resisted the use of colour, decides to use it in order to put in evidence its synthetic and chemical nature, as well as the properties that render it more unnatural such as plywood, aluminium, or polystyrene.
Lynne Cohen's training as a sculptor is evident in the monumental quality of the objects and the places that she chooses and in the precise rendition of the textures of materials.
She underlines this sculptural dimension by exhibiting her prints framed in Formica, which reinforces the object quality of the images.
LYNNE COHEN, BY ANDREA BLUM
"I first saw the photographs of Lynne Cohen in Paris at Galerie des Archives several years ago. The work put me in a world somewhere between Stanley Kubrick and Ansel Adams and I must admit I was freezing! It is difficult to say whether it is the stark quality of the images, the confusion of realities, or fear of uncomfortable places which gives the work its resonance, but I keep coming back to it as a reference on a multiple of levels.
The work is staged as object and subject. It is classical in form yet baroque in detail. It provides information about "us" but we are absent from view. It is literary yet converts to cinema. It is a document of some sci-fi 60's film but it represents our lives in the late '90's. It is a representation of who we are where we are and how we live and it is extremely shocking! The work causes the viewer to travel with it be it to the gymnasium, the club house, the waiting room. The more you see the less credible it becomes.
It is for these reasons that I think Lynne Cohen deserves support. Her images take the form of questions and it is through this that she lets you into another world."
"There are a few truisms about Lynne I feel I must mention.
Lynne loved the uncanny. Her work turned fiction into fact and fact into fiction, and showed us how insane the world was.
She was irreverent, but not mean.
She was smart.
She was a true lefty, with a tendency to rage against the stupidity of those in power.
She didn't mind living in Canada but remained unhappy that the Canadian dollar was not worth that of the US.
She loved Montreal so she could speak French.
She secretly believed she was French.
She always had several thoughts running concurrently never fully finishing a sentence.
She turned words into sounds & sounds into words.
She wished blueberry muffins had no calories.
She was an exercise maniac.
She enjoyed life.
She was generous.
She adored Andrew.
And it is without question that she was a wonderful friend to us all."
Lynne Cohen
(1944, Racine, US - 2014, Montréal, CA)
Solo exhibitions
2023
Laboratoires / Observatoires, Centre Pompidou, Paris, FR
2019
Lynne Cohen : Double aveugle, 1970-2012, Pavillon Populaire, Montpelier, FR
Lynne Cohen: These Walls, Burnaby Art Gallery, British Columbia, BC
2018
Vintage: 1970-1980, Galería Bacelos, Madrid, ES
Vintage: 1970-1980, Galería Bacelos, Vigo, ES
2017
Tate Modern, London (with Taryn Simon), GB
Lynne Cohen: Vintage Work, 1970-1980, Art 45, Montreal, CA
Lynne Cohen, Art 45, Montreal, CA
2015
Lynne Cohen : un hommage, In Situ - fabienne leclerc, Paris, FR
2013
Faux indices, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, CA
2014
Lynne Cohen, Fondation Mapfre (curator : Nuria Enguita), Madrid, ES
Lynne Cohen, Sala Rekalde, Bilbao, ES
2011
Olga Korper Gallery, Contact Festival Toronto, CA
2008
Fototeca, Havana, CU
Lynne Cohen - Clear arrangements, Braunschweig Museum of Photography, DE
2006
Access points d'accès, Parisian Laundry Gallery, Montréal, CA
Hasted/Hunt, New York, USA
Galerie Visor, Valencia, ES
Banff Center for the Arts, a Walter Phillips Gallery Collection exhibition, Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Building, Alberta, CA
Camouflage, Galerie Wilma Tolksdorf, Frankfort, DE
2004
Galerie Bacelos, Vigo, ES
1998
Lynne Cohen, Museum voor Fotografie, Anvers, BE
1995
Karsten Schubert, London, GB
Galerie Rodolphe Janssen, Bruxelles, BE
1988
Interim Art, London, GB
Samia Saouma Gallery, Paris, FR
Group exhibitions
2008
06Emissaires_QC08, Québec City, Québec, CA
DZ Bank's collection, Staedel Museum, Frankfurt, Germany
Images d'un renouvellement urbain, Le Point du Jour, Cherbourg-Octeville, FR
La Grande traversée-Horizons photographique, Musée du Nouveau Monde, La Rochelle, FR
La Grande traversée-Horizons photographique, Musée du Bas-Saint-Laurent, Rivière-du-loup, CA
2004
National Gallery of Canada, CA
Galerie Bacelos et Visor, ARCO, Madrid, ES
Rivages, Musée d'art et d'histoire de Saint-Brieuc, FR
Artéfacts, Fondation Daniel & Florence Guerlain, Les Mesnuls, FR
2002
Aquaria, Landesgalerie am Oberösterreichischen Landesmuseum, Linz, AU
Galeria Visor, ARCO, Madrid, ES
Salamanca, Un proyecto fotografico, Sala Millares, Madrid; Centro de Arte de Salamanca, ES, Aquaria, Kunstsammlungen, Chemnitz, AU
Le regard de l'autre, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, FR
Photography, Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto, CA
Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, CA
Aquaria: über die ungewöhnlichte Beziehung zwichen Wasser und Mensch, Oberösterreichischen, AU
2000
Galeria del angels, Barcelona, ES
Le Siegle du Corps, Musée de l'Élysée Lausanne, CH
Territoires ordinaires (Bustamante, Cohen, Duncan and Oroczo), Centre culturel du Colombier, Rennes, FR
1999
Esuards Distants, IVAM, Valencia, ES
1998
Power Plant, Toronto, CA
Under Construction, Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto, CA
Le donné, le fictif, Centre National de la Photographie, Paris, FR
Musée d'Art Moderne, Villeneuve d'Ascq, FR
Photography's Multiple Roles, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, US
1995
Double Mixte (Barry X. Ball, Lynne Cohen, Pascal Convert, Rachel Whiteread), Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris, FR
Visions of Hope and Despair, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, US
Beyond Recognition: Contemporary International Photography, Logan Art Gallery, Queensland, AU
1994
Intimité et froideur, Galerie des Archives, Paris, FR
1993
Sheldon Memorial, Sheldon, USA
Gallery Lincoln, Loveland, USA
Tufts University Arts Gallery, Medford, USA
Vivid: Intense Images by American Photographers , Raab Galerie, Berlin, DE
Raab Boukamel Galleries, London, UK
Gian Ferrari Arte Contemporanea, Milano, IT
Magicians of Light, National Gallery of Canada, CA
Residencies
1993
Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, FR
Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Paris (Préfiguration), FR
International Photography Seminar, Alden Biesen, BE
1994
Arteleku, San Sebastian, ES
1995
Ecole Nationale de la Photographie, Arles, FR, 1995
Centre d'Art Contemporain de Guérigny, FR
Light Work, Syracuse University, US
1996
Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, US
1998
Museum voor Fotografie, Antwerp, BE
Universitat de Valencia, ES
2000
Academie Sint Joost, Breda, NL
Hoger Instituut voor Schone Kunst, Antwerp, BE
Monographies
2014Catalogs
2012
Nothing is hidden. Scotiabank/Steidl Publishers, 2012.
2009
Cover. Le Point du jour, Cherbourg-Octeville, 2009.
2002
Aquaria. Landesgalerie am Oberösterreichischen Landesmuseum, Linz, Salamanca.
Un Proyecto Fotografico, Cosorcio Salamanca, 2002.
2000
Art Chicago 2000 Gallery Catalogue. Chicago, 2000.
1998
Trafic. Frac Haute-Normandie, 1998.
Art, Document, Market, Science: Photography's Multiple Roles. Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, 1998.
1997
Evidence: Photography and Site. Wexner Center for the Arts, 1997
1996
Contact Sheet. 89, Syracuse, 1996.
Fonds régional d'art contemporain--Limousin: 1989-1995. Limoges, 1996.
Embedded Metaphors. Independent Curators, New-York, 1996.
1995
Criqui, Jean-Pierre. Double Mixte: Barry X. Ball, Lynne Cohen, Pascal Convert, Rachel Whiteread. Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris, 1995.
Beyond Recognition: Contemporary International Photography. National Gallery of Australia, 1995.
1992
Lamoureux, Johanne. Stages Without Wings. Art Gallery of York University, 1992
De la curiosité. Dazibao, 1992.
1991
Lanzinger, Pia. Das Sibyllinische Auge. Foto e.V. Munchen und Barbara Gross Galerie, Munchen, 1991.
No Laughing Matter. Independent Curators, New York, 1991.
Freidus, Marc. Typologies, Newport Harbor Art Museum, California / Rizzoli, 1991.
Brown, Carol. Un-Natural Traces, Barbican Art Gallery, London, 1991.
Slemmons, Rod. Living Evidence. Presentation House, Vancouver, 1991.
1989
Butler, Susan. Shifting Focus. Arnolfini/Serpentine, 1989.
Press
2002
Vernissage, Magazine of National Gallery of Canada, Spring 2002, pp. 12-1
Pomparat, Catherine. "No man's land". CV Photo, 56, Jan. 2002, p. 32.
Elwall, Robert. "No man's land". AJ (the architect's journal), 24 Jan. 2002, p. 62-63
2000
Public Lexicon, no. 19 & 20, 2000.
Photographie d'une collection. CD, 2000.
Papel Alpha (with an interview by Bert Dankaert). Salamanca, no. 5, 2000.
Aletti, V. Village Voice, 1 Feb. 2000.
Danckaert, B."Ersatz en kinderspeelgoed", Tijd Culture, 2 Feb. 2000.
Klinkenberg, M. Ottawa Citizen, 12 Feb. 2000.
De Vos, J. «Binnen is het proper», Knack, 1 Mar. 2000.
Gopnik, B. «Cohen enters the world of colour», Globe and Mail, 26 Apr. 2000.
Del Rio, V. Lapiz 162, Apr. 2000.
E. Leffingwell. Art in America, Jun. 2000.
1998
Baqué, D. "La photographie plasticienne". Regard, Paris, 1998.
Prévost, Jean-Marc. "Trafic", Frac Haute-Normandie, 1998.
1997
Photographie d'une collection. Hazan, vol.2, Paris, 1997.
1996
Pomparat, Catherine. Les passions privées. Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 1996.
CV photo, Montréal, no. 37, 1996.
Ollier, Brigitte. Liberation. 19 Jan. 1996.
Lavoie, Vincent. Parachute. #84, Oct. 1996, p. 56.
Smith, Roberta. New York Times, 13 Dec. 1996, p. C28.
Lavoie, Vincent. "Portrait d'un malentendu". Dazibao, 1996.
1995
Tages-Anseiger, Switzerland, 27 Oct. 1995.
M'P, no. 8, New York, 1995.
Martin, M; Hopkinson, A. Contemporary Photographers, 3rd Edition. St James Press, 1995.
Breerette, Geneviève. "Un quatuor pour images en creux au Jeu de paume". Le Monde, 12 Apr. 1995.
1994
Arthur Kroker & Michael Weinstein. Data Trash. St Martin's Press, New York, 1994.
Rosenblum, Naomi. A History of Women Photographers. Abbeville Press, 1994.
William A. The Body. Ewing, Thames and Hudson, 1994.
Les Cahiers du Musée National d'Art Moderne, Winter 1994.
Eelbode, Erik. "Gevonden plaatsen" («Found places»), De Witte Raaf, Nov. 1993.
Aguiriano, Maya. El Diario Vasco, 1994.
Aguiriano, Maya. "Interview, Zehar". Oct./Dec. 1994.
Butler, Susan. "Subject-to-Change", Women's Art, no 59, 1994.
1993
Arts Magazine, Feb./Mar. 1993.
Gibson, Wesley. New Art Examiner, Apr. 1993.
Agboton-Jumeau, Jean-Charles. Forum International, Oct./Nov. 1993.
Baker, Kenneth. Artnews, Nov. 1993.
1992
Beyond Glory: Re-Presenting Terrorism. Maryland Institute, 1992
Hagan, Charles. New York Times, 17 Jan. 1992.
Meyer, James. Flash Art, Apr. 1992.
Finley, Kathlenn. Arts Magazine, Apr. 1992.
Loke, Margarett. Art News, May 1992.
Wise, Kelly. Boston Globe, 21 may 1992.
Cornand, Brigitte. Beaux Arts Magazine, Sep. 1992.
Guerrin, Michel. "Plus réel que nature". Le Monde, 7 Oct. 1992.
Ollier, Brigitte. "Lynne Cohen, derrière le rideau". Libération, 21 Oct. 1992.
1990
Sullivan, Constance. Women Photographers. Abrams, 1990.
Heresies, no. 25, 1990.
Campeau, Sylvain. Parachute, Jan./Feb. 1990.
Meuris, Jacques. "Lynne Cohen, l'ordinaire et l'extraordinaire". La Libre Belgique, 16 Feb. 1990.
"Les U.S.A. vus de l'intérieur". Art & Culture, Feb. 1990.
Lambrecht, Luk. "Banaliteit". Knack Weekend, 21 Feb. 1990.
HAZAN, June 2019
Steidl, May 2017
Denise Wolff, January 2012
Le point du jour, October 2009
Le Point du Jour, January 2006
Thames & Hudson, February 2003
Consorcio Salamanca 2002, January 2002
Editions du F.R.AC. Limousin, Editions de l'Hôtel des Arts, April 1992
Galerie Bacelos,