Social Modernism 2021

Curator: So, here we have Mark Kostabi's 2021 acrylic painting, "Social Modernism". It's quite a vibrant piece! Editor: My initial reaction? This feels oddly…lonely. All that bold color, the stylized figures taking a selfie, and even the little cat. They all feel strangely isolated despite being grouped together. Curator: Interesting take! The composition does pull you in different directions, doesn’t it? Tell me more. Editor: Well, the background is intensely geometric and reminiscent of Mondrian, very orderly. But the figures? They are fluid, almost dreamlike and those sleek faceless figures add to that disconnected sense. Plus, they're taking a selfie, like many of us, a symbol of modern self-obsession or modern existential angst even? Curator: Absolutely, and Kostabi often explores the complexities and paradoxes of modern life through his signature style, which is rooted in figuration with elements of surrealism and neo-expressionism, which helps explain that odd sensation. Editor: And that vibrant yet controlled color palette only intensifies the contrast. Like a brightly colored mask hiding something more profound. Why use these vivid acrylic paints? Is it purely decorative, or to mirror the heightened, almost artificial quality of our online lives? Curator: Perhaps it mirrors both? The "social" aspect could hint at human interaction that feels, at its core, deeply impersonal, mediated through technology, while "modernism" ties back to early 20th century abstraction that sought to explore these shifts away from traditional means of representation. It’s an interesting tension, for sure. Editor: It truly makes you question how much connection there really is in the digital age. I think in Social Modernism the contrast between form and its elements offers commentary about what truly connects us. Curator: And on that contemplative note, perhaps it’s time for our listeners to come to their own conclusions about the complex social web Kostabi weaves.