Beyond Forever 2017

Curator: Mark Kostabi’s “Beyond Forever,” painted in 2017, strikes me as a visually arresting commentary on, well, maybe the commodification of intimacy in a hyper-realized, almost surreal dreamscape. Editor: My first impression is this artwork is whimsical and surreal; it uses bold, simplified shapes, offering a cool detachment, a world almost of mannequin-like beings lost in thought. It feels strangely peaceful, with the horizon bringing warmth to an eerie image. Curator: The faceless figures are a key element, certainly. For me, this absence of individualized expression transforms them into vessels, pure signifiers in this bizarre theater. Do you think the facelessness works, in some way, as a type of cultural signifier for conformity, reflecting the erosion of individual identity? Editor: It could be about de-personalization and the loss of individuality that capitalist structures and globalized exchanges impose on intimate human connection. However, faceless figures, since antiquity, have always opened a gateway to projecting universal ideas or emotions. Curator: The dreamlike quality of the imagery and vivid coloration certainly lend it a feeling of stepping into the collective unconscious. Consider how this color palette might reflect the artist's exploration into modern mythology and its effects on shaping subconscious perception. Editor: Absolutely, it's a postmodern meditation, a play on themes of longing and fantasy—with, I think, subversive undertones that prompt you to look critically at love and escapism. Curator: The ships in the background are a beautiful detail. Water has a very potent presence as an image, carrying multiple levels of historical, spiritual and cultural importance, signifying journeys, freedom, unconscious and purification in our human narratives. They give me a slight touch of longing. Editor: Well, I think that it can act as a form of empowerment too: here the female figure is gazing forward on an ocean of possibilities, looking towards new voyages, with all the courage needed to fulfill them. The composition places her as an active participant in her narrative. Curator: The enduring symbolism definitely adds a sense of depth, making the piece thought-provoking long after the initial visual encounter. Editor: Agreed. There is an invitation, using a blend of vibrant colors and intriguing concepts, to question conventional concepts. I will consider this work in different light after our talk.