The Demons of Leonard Cohen
Description
The countless roles assumed by Cohen’s personas are not some innocent game, but strategies in response to the sometimes-conflicting demands of a “life in art. ” They serve as masks that represent the performer’s face and state of mind in a heightened yet detached way. In and around the artistic work, they are embodied by different guises and demons: image (the poser), artistry (the writer and singer), alienation (the stranger and the confidant), religion (the worshipper, prophet, and priest). Ultimately, Cohen’s artistic practice can be read as an attempt at forging interpersonal contact.