What’s Ripe Will Rot continues Justin Cole’s exploration of life and death’s cyclical nature. In this collection, Cole captures the enormity of time’s passage and surrenders it to the earth. Flowers burn, feral and untamed. Fading figures are conjured in desolate landscapes. In this world, there are no beginnings or endings, only the uncertain middle. With each passing moment, the subjects disappear further into the unknown.
Cole creates paintings that are emotionally stimulating rather than stringently narrative. His work touches on the human condition, levels of consciousness, and death. Restraint and intentionality are at the core of Cole’s work. His paintings almost exclusively focus on one subject, keeping the narrative contained. The palette is refined, and the composition is simple yet effective. There are no distracting elements — the most intriguing components are uncovered within the subtleties. The more you study the paintings, the more the dimension expands.
