Newtown Creek
Alexis Rockman, 2014, oil on wood, 68 x 108 inches, © 2014, courtesy of the artist
Alexis Rockman
What will the future reveal about our choices and attitudes toward the natural world? In his cinematic oil paintings, Alexis Rockman portrays a fermenting world shaped by human excess and environmental corruption. He depicts the future as a saturated dystopia, in which creatures struggle to survive toxic conditions and the onslaught of invasive species. In the depths of this latter-day, primordial soup, Rockman finds the survivors — feral beasts that emerge from the human era transformed and triumphant. In Rockman’s paintings, we do not see human beings. We see memories and vestiges of them in polluted canals, cascading piles of trash, crumbling monuments and mutated animals. We see their absence, and the altered landscapes they have left behind. We search for signs of hope in the post-human world and find them in Rockman’s resilient creatures, who adapt and endure, as natural order returns to traumatized environments. Rockman draws us into this vision of the future with vibrant colors and densely-packed compositions. He commands our attention with crisp details set against loose, gestural washes and hazy horizons. He blends fact and fiction, filling his dream-like landscapes with creatures, landmarks and conflicts, both real and imagined. He invites us to experience this headrush of possibility and urges us to care for our planet before it is too late.
Explore the Gallery
Battle Royale
Alexis Rockman, 2011, oil and alkyd on wood, 96 x 216 inches, © 2011, courtesy of the artist
In “Battle Royale,” Rockman addresses the impact of introduced plant and animal species on wetland ecosystems in Louisiana. His depiction of the ongoing struggle between indigenous and invasive species is described in this museum publication (page 13). Many have advocated human predation as a strategy for managing invasive species, such as the nutria, a large, semi-aquatic rodent from South America that has ravaged Louisiana wetlands. Humans now hunt nutria for sport, fur, dog treats and even haute cuisine. As discussed in this blog post, however, creating human demand for invasive species adds a unique layer of complexity to eradication efforts.
Manifest Destiny
Alexis Rockman, 2004, oil on wood, 96 x 288 inches, © 2004, courtesy of the artist
“Manifest Destiny” is a large-scale mural that was exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 2004. The work presents a vision of the Brooklyn waterfront in the future, submerged beneath the sea due to the effects of global warming. How would rising sea levels affect your community? Explore the impact of rising seas on your area with this interactive map from Climate Central.
Gowanus
Alexis Rockman, 2013, oil on wood, 72 x 90 inches, © 2013, courtesy of the artist
The subject of this painting is the Gowanus Canal, a 1.8 mile waterway in Brooklyn, New York. The canal is one of the most polluted bodies of water in the world and has been designated as a Superfund cleanup site by the United States EPA. What would happen if you drank water from the Gowanus Canal? Could such a polluted place produce new forms of life that are resistant to disease and a harbinger of new medicines? This article in Popular Science by Dan Nosowitz addresses those topics and more.
In this video interview, Alexis Rockman discusses the inspiration behind his work and his approach to painting “Gowanus.”
The Farm
Alexis Rockman, 2000, oil and acrylic on wood panel, 96 x 120 inches, © 2000, courtesy of the artist
In “The Farm,” Alexis Rockman creates a provocative vision of a farm filled with genetically-modified organisms. As scientists continue to push the boundaries of genetics, what role should ethics play in their research and experiments? This TED talk by bioethicist Paul Root Wolpe addresses recent bio-engineering projects and the need to define ethical ground rules for genetic engineering.
Hotelscape
Alexis Rockman, 2006, oil, mica, clay and sand on wood, 72 x 84 inches, © 2006, courtesy of the artist
Rockman’s paintings have a cinematic quality, and his work has been influenced by his love of feature films. He was selected by director Ang Lee to develop concept art for the film “Life of Pi” (released November 21, 2012). Rockman depicted otherworldly creatures and dreamlike scenes in paintings and drawings that served as inspiration for several scenes in the movie. Learn more about this project in these short videos.
The Bounty
Alexis Rockman, 1991, oil on wood, 72 x 84 inches, © 1991, courtesy of the artist
In “The Bounty,” Rockman depicts a collection of extinct species, including the iconic dodo, in his signature style of pop realism. Painters often rely on live models, photographs and similar reference materials when crafting the realistic details in their work. But what do they do if their muse became extinct long before the advent of the film camera? It is likely that Rockman based his version of the dodo, directly or indirectly, on a painting from 1651 by the Flemish artist Jan Savery. According to this fascinating article from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, however, Savery’s depiction of the dodo as a plump, downy bird may not have been an accurate representation of the bird’s appearance. Rather, the dodo may have been a more slender, “athletic” bird.
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Alexis Rockman’s work addresses the sustainability of human consumption and our imperative to protect the natural world from pollution, introduced species, genetically-modified organisms, climate change and other manmade disruptions. If you are inspired by his work, you can take action in your own life. Select one or more pledges listed below and spread the word. You can also learn more by visiting our Pledge Center. Let’s #EndOvershoot and save our #OneEarth.