Novaclustr 2018

Editor: This is "Novaclustr" by Beeple, created in 2018. It seems to be a digital photograph, and I’m struck by its futuristic and somewhat dystopian mood. The juxtaposition of traditional architectural forms with neon lights creates a compelling visual tension. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The dynamism lies precisely in that visual tension you mention. Observe how the artist uses geometric forms: the layered pagoda against the stark lines of the skyscrapers. The carefully calibrated balance, or imbalance if you will, destabilizes the viewer, questioning the relationship between past and future, organic and inorganic. Editor: That makes sense. The neon colors contribute to that destabilization too, don't they? Almost creating new lines within the established structure? Curator: Precisely. Notice how the lines of neon fracture the familiar shape of the pagoda, introducing a digital syntax. One might see the interplay of red, pink and blue as disruptive, but in concert, they harmonize, albeit in a disconcerting fashion, the composition of color and form. It beckons reflection upon the intersection of the digital and physical worlds, a key tenet in contemporary art. Do you find the contrast successful in that respect? Editor: Definitely, now that you point it out, I do. I originally only considered my emotional response, the “dystopian mood”. I appreciate how you focus on form and the calculated interplay of color and shape. It helps unpack what I felt and allows a new awareness to come forward. Curator: Art is a subjective encounter but benefits from objectivity too! In the best instances, a work of art provides an invitation for multiple interpretations.