The Eulogy of You and Me 2021

Curator: Mark Kostabi's 2021 acrylic piece, "The Eulogy of You and Me," presents a vibrant tableau. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: The striking clarity of line and bold color immediately grab my attention. The almost neon vibrancy lends it a somewhat unsettling energy, but I'm intrigued by how such clean, simple forms create that tension. Curator: Kostabi often uses these featureless figures as stand-ins for the self, stripping away individuality to explore universal themes. Consider the title: “The Eulogy of You and Me”. It suggests a memorial, a farewell to a relationship or a past self. Editor: Yes, and notice how the facelessness amplifies that universality. We aren't seeing specific people; we are seeing archetypes, or perhaps concepts, engaged in this... musical dialogue? I'm interested in the geometric layering here. Curator: Exactly! And the musical theme here begs for closer inspection: a yellow figure playing a saxophone and another playing what seems to be drums in front of a color field of geometric fields of color. Kostabi subtly embeds social critique in these dreamscapes, and there may be some link to contemporary understandings of identity and belonging through shared passions such as music. Editor: The flat planes of color emphasize the surface, almost denying depth, despite the illusion of figures. It seems almost defiant in its two-dimensionality, yet it suggests something beyond what we literally see. And if you view this musical exchange through the lens of color theory alone… the juxtaposition of yellow, red and blue evokes a wide variety of feelings. Curator: Agreed, the piece sparks so many conversations surrounding pop art and modernism, a sense of social commentary, of navigating interpersonal dynamics in late-stage capitalism where individuality is somehow both celebrated and commodified. Editor: I find myself still drawn back to the sheer audacity of the composition. Its boldness and simplicity are compelling. Curator: It seems Kostabi manages to capture our cultural moment of simultaneous connection and alienation. A complex paradox for the canvas indeed. Editor: Yes, a stimulating piece for continued reflection.