In Alexis Rockman’s exhibition titled “Naples: Course of Empire,” the artist captures the devastation caused by a plague in the Kingdom of Naples from 1656-1658. The painting “Plague in the Kingdom of Naples, 1656-1658” depicts death personified as a skeleton riding a rat, symbolizing the chaos and destruction left behind by the pandemic that claimed the lives of 1.25 million people, including half of the city’s population.
Rockman’s series pays homage to Thomas Cole’s “The Course of Empire” cycle, expanding on the concept by adding two more seasons and exploring eras that Cole’s paintings did not cover. The paintings in the exhibition range from the Triassic era to a post-human world, reflecting on the passage of time and the impermanence of human power.
The scale of Rockman’s paintings mimics the aspect ratio of recent cinema, transforming them into cinematic panels that challenge the digital medium. By choosing Naples as the subject of his series, Rockman highlights the city’s historical significance and its decline from a world capital, suggesting that the true plague is humanity itself.
Through paintings like “Post Human: Palazzo Donn’Anna,” Rockman conveys a dystopic vision of a world where humanity has faded away, hinting at the consequences of our actions on the planet. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on their impact on the environment and the future of the planet.
Rockman’s “Naples: Course of Empire” is on display at Magenta Plains in Chinatown, Manhattan, offering a thought-provoking exploration of history, power, and the fragility of human existence.
