Presence through Absence: Charles Cohen

 Charles Cohen is an artist based in New York. He graduated with a MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1995. He has been publishing and exhibiting his work professionally since 1993. Cohen has created many different art series over the years but they share the common themes of abstraction and 'presence of absence,' the latter of which is best represented by his iconic "Buff" (1999-2005) series of works.

The "Buff" series takes photographs of pornographic scenes and removes the human character(s), replacing them with white silhouettes. I find Cohen's style to be very striking, interesting, and thought provoking. The usage of bold silhouettes creates emphasis on shape and pose. I find my attention drawn to the detailed strands of hair, in particular; there is a certain simplicity and flow. Additionally, removing the human figures allows my imagination to take an active role in interpreting the piece. No two viewers will see the same thing as what we see in that blank cutout is influenced by who we are, and our own life experiences.


Although the subject matter of "Buff" is pornography, I think that this is an art style that would work very effectively with many other themes as well. The contrast between the silhouette and the rest of the photograph allows the viewer to appreciate the lines and curves in the world around us that would otherwise be taken for granted or go unnoticed.

Visit Charles Cohen's website here.