North America

Paul Kos

Oil Bell

2008

Paul Kos, Oil Bell, 2008. Sculpture.

Paul Kos’s Oil Bell is an evocative artwork that engages with themes of nature, industry, and the passage of time. The piece consists of an actual bell submerged in oil, creating a striking visual and conceptual contrast between the bell’s traditional symbolism of clarity and communication and the thick, opaque nature of oil. This juxtaposition suggests a meditation on the environmental and cultural impact of the oil industry, hinting at the silencing of natural sounds and voices due to industrialization. The oil, with its viscous and reflective properties, adds a layer of complexity, distorting the appearance of the bell and the light around it, symbolizing the murky consequences of human exploitation of natural resources. Kos’s choice of materials and the serene yet unsettling presentation prompt viewers to reflect on the interconnectedness of ecological systems and the profound effects of human activity on the environment. Oil Bell is a poignant commentary on the fragility of nature and the enduring consequences of industrial progress.

Paul Kos is part of the Bay Area Conceptual movement that pioneered video performance and installation art in the late sixties and early seventies. Calling himself a materials-based conceptual artist, he explores properties of various materials not traditionally associated with art and often includes a sound dimension to his work. Kos’s work often shows a slightly absurdist sense of humor which he crystallizes into memorable, smart, and funny images, something shared with that of fellow Californian Bruce Nauman. Kos works with everyday materials and video to enact a playful conceptual engagement with life and the world. He has made sculptures from salt blocks, to be licked away by cows, and has carefully microphoned melting blocks of ice. Throughout these pieces, Kos’s work uses humor to relate the stuff of life back to larger questions of temporality and spirituality.

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Paul Kos Oil Bell

Paul Kos

Oil Bell