Description (Piece Specific) : The Eye of Adventure is part of José Parlá’s Phosphene series (2023), a body of work that derives its name from the Greek words for ‘light’ and ‘to show,’ aptly describing the ocular phenomenon where light is perceived through closed eyes. This concept is vivaciously portrayed in the painting through a lively array of flashes of colour, dots, swirls, and abstract shapes, capturing the synthesis of mind, body, and breath. The series originated in Miami, marking a significant departure from Parlá’s previous practice in his industrial Brooklyn studio. Following a near-death experience with COVID-19, Parlá sought inspiration from the natural world and sunlight, choosing to paint outdoors, a decision that imbued his work with a renewed sense of vitality and immediacy. Each piece in this exhibition pulses with energy, reflecting Parlá’s unique form of synesthesia, where sound and colour converge in rhythmic layers of cryptic writings that add depth and luminosity to his art. These paintings, which blend the phosphene phenomenon with influences from Cuban music and Hip-Hop culture, create a labyrinth of memories, textures, and impressions that resonate with Parlá’s lifelong exploration of the urban subconscious. The Eye of Adventure visually recalls the effect of sunlight penetrating closed eyelids, with its orb-like composition translating these fleeting hues and shapes into a vivid, central focal point. The circular format of the painting not only evokes the sensation of light diffusing through closed eyelids but also reinforces a sense of unity and completeness, functioning both as a lens and a frame, suggesting a self-contained universe that amplifies the continuous visual and cognitive experience. Intricate asemic calligraphy weaves through the composition, resembling optic nerves or arterial threads, adding layers of meaning through obscured words and phrases that link past, present, and imagined futures. Parlá envisions his works as a collective of memories, stimulating viewers' imaginations and encouraging them to explore the interconnectedness of time and experience through his vibrant use of colour and layered calligraphic gestures.

Description (General): Phosphene (2023) is a body of work transformed form José Parlá’s earlier styles, reflecting a journey both deeply personal and universal. The former due to his near-death experience with Covid -19 and the latter connected to the pre-democracy and BLM protests that erupted during those years.

Phosphene is “a sensation of a ring or spot of light produced by pressure on the eyeball or direct stimulation of the visual system other than by light.” Literally, Parlá experienced phosphenes during his stay in hospital, where he was induced into a coma and experienced significant muscle atrophy. Drawing his experience into his practice, ‘phosphene’ becomes a metaphor for inner vision, healing and unconscious memory. As reflected in his triumphant and energetic spreads, Parlá had to fight on both a psychological and physical level to regain former strength.

There is a renewed life force in his characteristic abstract stokes and layering. These works express vitality previously unseen, as if electrical currents are running across the canvases, echoing his convalescent neural networks.

Parlá’s personal recalibration is connected to the changing world outside. Covid-19 caused death and panic as governments imposed harsh lock-downs. In conjunction with tightening control, pro-democracy protests and outcry after the George Floyd murder, empowering citizens to embrace a dormant power by rethinking what society should be. These works seek to illustrate the connection between the inner self and the global; strength through introspection and global will.