theory and practice: Nadia's Gallery Review on COSM

The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (COSM)
Alex and Allyson Grey
542 West 27th St, 4th Floor

I was first introduced to Alex Grey sometime last year from a close friend who had stumbled upon his work. I immediately became intrigued by the paintings. I did some of my own research, and made it my mission to see this fantastic art sanctuary in person. Going to COSM was of course far more amazing than seeing any photograph. I walked in and was surrounded by a series of paintings that examine anatomy of the body and soul. COSM affirms universal spirituality and aims to provoke viewers to see themselves as reflections of the divine. The gallery was set in four main rooms.

The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors

This was the first room I entered. It consisted of 21 framed mirrors which ranged from representations of the human body’s physical anatomy to complex energy systems. Alex Grey focuses his work toward the Chakras or the streams of energy that permeate from the body. His paintings depict a colorful and VERY detailed description of these etheric auras. It is quite compelling to see these images. I feel that they created a type of unity among all race, class, and gender differences.

The Yellow Room

The Yellow Room exhibits human relationships and passages in the cycle of life. The paintings are done in a similar fashion as several of the ones included in the Chapel except that they possess gestural qualities. For example, one entitled ‘Birth’, shows much of the cardiovascular system in vibrant yellow, reds, and blues as well as Tibetan syllables signifying the mother as a birthing Buddha. There is a great sense of eastern religious influences in the work. However, Alex seems to make it quite comprehendible to viewers who might not be familiar with some of his references by including detailed descriptions next to the paintings.

The White Room

The White Room contains paintings that depict the mind coming into consciousness or enlightenment. ‘Theologue’ is perhaps the largest in the room. It’s 180 x 60 inches and it portrays a figure in standard meditative pose. The same etheric aura’s portrayed in the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors are shown are a much larger scale and follow a grid-like pattern across a horizon. Next to the painting reads “During deep meditation, I entered a state in which all energy systems in my body were completely aligned and flowing”.

The Black Room

This was by far my favorite room. As beautiful as the paintings are in the exhibit, there is a shocking reality in The Black Room that brings you back to earth as you re-enter the world as it is. Alex leaves this room in the back of the gallery. It is meant to be viewed last. Three large paintings fill the room, but the one which stood out most to me was the one entitled Gaia. Ridiculous is not the word! Alex claims that the painting is based off of a vision that he had the day his daughter was born in 1988 and was painted in 1989. On the left is world as paradise with beautiful bright colors. The right side shows the destruction of humanity and the web of life. Especially intriguing about the right side of this painting, (which others have pointed out after September 11th is that there are two airplanes flying over the twin towers and figure that very much resembles George Bush in the foreground with a “Dick” embracing a terrorist.