Gallery Visit: Solo show with Robert Rohm at O.K. Harris (SoHo NY)

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First I see a three piece sculpture, made of mostly iron.  The base is heavy (lead like); cylindrical pillar, growing wider from top to bottom. On top of that is a hollow globe with the same textured iron.  Inside the globe is a nucleus: twisted metal of rusty greens and reds.  Definitely resembling a brain or membrane of some sort.  The twisting embodies activity.  It is a nucleus.

In the second sculpture (presented in a lateral procession) the activity represented in the first sculpture appears to be encased in the center of the sculpture instead of the top.  The iron tower that holds it is expanding.  Perhaps this series shows progression and growth somehow.  The dark color pallet and reference to chambers and caged neuron activity reminds me of the film The Matrix.

The third sculpture shows the iron tower (capsule, vessle, etc) opening up a bit more.  The activity now has a mesh fence around it, and has been turned into mush, as if put into a garbage disposal.  The bottom of the mesh fence is now narrow, holding an overall shape of a cone, implying that the activity/membrane has been devoured and is vanishing.

The fourth sculpture is kind of creepy.  Reminds me of a caged creature plotting to escape an escape to reek havoc on society.  The creature seems to have replaced the brain (former activity), possessing several legs and no apparent head or brain of its own.  This sculpture is more ominous than the creature before, causing me to question if "brainless" creatures are more dangerous by design. 

Next in the procession of sculptures, I see the vessel/tower holding the embodied activity is shrinking.  This time, the creature is escaping and expanding outward through the tip of the vessel.  It is latched on and rooted to the bottom of the vessel (deep into the pillar) yet floating out of a portal to cause destruction.

Lastly, I see the activity in this final sculpture of the procession emanate a feeling of something calm and natural, resembling something floral.   No danger lingers.  No excess activity; nothing on the verge of being compromised.  The imagery here is peaceful and the blue tips on the iron show hints of life.