Loophole with a View 2001

This is Mark Kostabi’s *Loophole with a View*. It’s not dated, but judging by the bold graphics and sharp lines, it was probably made sometime in the 1980s. The painting is of a painting, and the way that Kostabi has depicted the image within the painting, it's like a stage set: colourful, and geometric. The painting depicts a seated figure, palette in hand, surveying a landscape from atop the Due Torri towers in Bologna. The towers themselves are metaphors for the act of painting, towering structures that support the artist's vision. I imagine Kostabi creating this work with a playful and experimental energy, layering colors to build depth and interest. The surface is smooth and almost unreal. The overall effect is one of whimsy and surrealism. It reminds me of the work of other postmodern painters who are interested in artifice and illusion. Ultimately, paintings like this serve as a reminder that art is a conversation. Each artist builds upon the ideas and techniques of those who came before, creating something new.