In the same way writing a word over and over (and over) potentially disintegrates its meaning, Jocelyn Duke’s upcoming show Lovesick explores the integral relationship between repetition and sensation in order to emulate the “immediate ups and downs of someone hopelessly lovesick.”

Rather than reinforced by repetition, Duke’s words blend into what feels like an infinite sequence, ushering the viewer into something of a disoriented lexical state—or as Duke might suggest, the raptures of love.

In Lovesick, Duke uses a vibrant color palette and creates repeating shapes and wordplay that make these large-scale works look like they're wiggling and jumping right off the canvas. Like holding a prism to sunlight, Duke's style makes rainbows all its own, illuminating her technicolor vision with bright lines and brilliant sensations.

Jocelyn Duke is premiering her vivid new series Lovesick in a solo exhibition opening this Friday, October 1st at the Ballpark Loft in the East Village from 7-10pm.