Courtesy Old Ideas, LLC
From the story woven in letter form in "So Long Marianne" to the atmosphere of New York City bohemia that permeates "Chelsea Hotel," the songs of Leonard Cohen reveal endless facets of the human experience. In honor of the exhibition Experience Leonard Cohen, join us for another installment of Sunday Stories to uncover new insights into some of Cohen's most iconic songs.
This video was originally published on The CJM's Facebook Live on September 12, 2021.
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Through his poetry, novels, songs, and lyrics, Leonard Cohen expressed the complexities and desires of body and soul—a compelling metaphor for the twenty-first century Jewish experience. An observant Jew, Cohen also deeply explored Buddhism and various other worldviews. His commitment to questions of spirituality and existence shines through in songs such as “Suzanne,” “Bird on a Wire,” and “Hallelujah,” which masterfully combine mystery and universality with sacred and profane, and are now imprinted on our collective memory. Experience Cohen’s legacy like never before—through the eyes of contemporary artists George Fok, Judy Chicago, Candice Breitz, and Marshall Trammell.
Courtesy Old Ideas, LLC
Exhibition image: Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac wandering along East 7th street . . ., 1953. Gelatin silver print, 1984–1997. National Gallery of Art, Gift of Gary S. Davis. Copyright © 2013 The Allen Ginsberg LLC. All rights reserved.