The Mind Sees a Color that Is Not Here 1972

This is Ron Cooper’s piece, and it's made of neon, glowing that slightly queasy, electric green. It feels very now, but also very 1960s, with a touch of that California cool. Neon is so raw, so immediate. It's not about subtlety. It's pure color, pure light, right there in your face. And then you read the words – "the mind sees a color that is not here" – and it messes with your head a little. Is the green not real, or is it just in our minds? It is real. It’s an optical effect, a sensation, a fleeting moment. It reminds me a bit of some of Bruce Nauman’s word pieces, the way he plays with language and expectation. But Cooper’s got this laid-back vibe that’s all his own. It's an invitation to just chill out and let your mind wander. To imagine colors that aren't there. Or maybe they are. Who's to say?