All Things Begin and End in Eternity 2022

Carrie Graber made this dreamy rendering of David Bowie, called ‘All Things Begin and End in Eternity,’ sometime after 1975. She used what looks like digital illustration to summon Bowie’s ghost. What I notice first is the way the smooth areas of colour seem to vibrate against the crisp outlines, creating a kind of hallucinatory space. It’s a flat image, of course, but the Art Nouveau echoes add a layer of depth, as if we’re peering through time. I’m especially drawn to the way the colour palette is so muted, yet still manages to capture Bowie's flamboyant energy. See how the beige shades in his wide leg trousers contrast with the soft pastels that illuminate the star chart behind him? The combination makes it feel nostalgic and futuristic all at once. Graber's image echoes Alphonse Mucha’s poster designs, but it also resonates with Bowie's self-conscious image-making, always looking forward. In the end, Graber’s image isn’t just a portrait. It’s a meditation on celebrity, time, and the enduring power of art to transform the present.