The exhibition borrowed its title from the celebrated Disney Animation book, ‘The Illusion of Life’, which Colen has often used as source material for his artwork. As such his sculptures and installations are infused with magic and theatricality, and play with notions of tromp l’oeil. They delight in knowing over-exaggeration, carnival-esque thrills and a harnessing of base irrational fears.

Accompanying this sculptural work was a new series of large scale ‘flower’ paintings. Physically delicate and finely detailed, they were produced by hammering and smashing thousands of artificially dyed flowers and natural roses, onto unbleached Belgian Linen. Dye from these hyper-real flowers was then transferred onto the canvas to produce constellations of colour and petal fragments reminiscent of Monet’s Waterlilies.

Artist Biography

Dan Colen was born in New Jersey in 1979. He graduated with a BFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Art and Design in 2001. Exhibitions include the 2006 Whitney Biennial, New York; “USA Today,” The Royal Academy, London (2006); “Defamation of Character,” PS1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island, New York (2006); “Fantastic Politics,” The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo (2006); “Skin Fruit: Selections from the Dakis Joannou Collection,” The New Museum, New York (2010); and “Peanuts,” Astrup Fearnley (2011).

Lower Ground Floor Gallery: KARMA

To accompany Dan Colen: The Illusion of Life, independent publishers KARMA, who have worked closely with Colen in New York, opened a temporary bookstore on the lower-ground floor gallery, presenting a selection of rare artists’ books for sale. KARMA was founded by Brendan Dugan and this was the first time KARMA has run outside of New York City. In addition, twenty-one new posters by Colen made for KARMA were exhibited alongside a number of vintage books chosen by Colen to reflect themes relating to the exhibition.

Installation views, Dan Colen: The Illusion of Life, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 2013. Images by Michael Wolchover.