Spiritual Diagnosis 2021

Editor: We're looking at "Spiritual Diagnosis" by Mark Kostabi, an acrylic painting from 2021. The composition, with the faceless figures and the winged figure in gold, feels rather surreal, almost dreamlike. What do you see in terms of its formal qualities? Curator: The artist employs a compelling interplay of contrasting forms. Consider the smoothness of the faceless figures supporting the globe versus the textured detail of the angel's wings. The starkness of the white figures amplifies the richness of the golden angel. Notice the linear precision of the stethoscope against the atmospheric blending of the background colors; these choices underscore the work's visual dynamic. Editor: It’s interesting how you point out the linearity versus the blending. What is the impact? Curator: The contrast between sharp lines and blended colors creates visual tension. The stark, almost clinical lines of the medical equipment juxtaposed with the ethereal, blended background produce an uneasy balance, visually representing the 'diagnosis'. Consider how the positioning of these elements impacts the viewer's reading of the image. Editor: I see how that creates a push and pull. Do you think the flatness of the faceless figures is important? Curator: Precisely! The flattening of those figures and their uniformity encourages us to consider them not as individuals, but rather as symbolic representations, perhaps of humanity itself. The lack of identifying features pushes the viewer to focus on the universal implications of the scene, wouldn't you agree? Editor: That makes sense. It's much more about what they represent than who they are individually. I hadn't thought about it that way before. Curator: Art allows for a constant re-evaluation of assumptions. Not unlike a...diagnosis, perhaps. Editor: Definitely. Looking at it from a formalist lens really clarifies how the shapes and colors interact to deliver meaning. Curator: Indeed. We see how form itself can embody, and even *be*, content.