John Cowen John Cowen

Artworks

All my work considers mankind’s impact on the planet and how it has defined our current epoch which is suggested to be called the Anthropocene - the age of mankind.

It’s well understood that human activities have had a negative impact on the planet and there’s a movement called ‘Rewilding’, which seeks to reestablish the dominance of nature as an antidote to the effects of the Anthropocene. The city is used in my work as a metaphor for everything humans have had an impact on. Farmland, fishing, reservoirs, managed forests, mines or pollution - there is almost nowhere on Earth that has not seen some level of impact by civilization. Even uninhabited places are being negatively affected by pollution and global heating. Rewilding however is not just about allowing nature to dominate at the expense of civilization, but to enhance both. The surfaces are made up of colour and chaos. The marks represent the resurgence of nature and how it is intertwined with people, culture, religion, philosophy and technology. All these great things we have created as a species existing in a magnificently rich, chaotic and sustainable ecosystem.

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Human Nature

These drawings look at mankinds impact on the planet. Intricately drawn maps become organic shapes and consider the symbiotic relationship between the natural and man-made environment.

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Rewilding

Recovery

Recovery X
Recovery IX
Recovery VIII
Recovery VII
Recovery VI
Recovery V

These paintings all follow the same process of being built up from many layers of paint and being aggressively scraped back. Leaving a finished surface that is scratched and distressed but still beautiful.

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