‘Afterlife’

Afterlife explores humanity’s deep-seated fascination with the concept of life beyond death, reflecting our enduring desire for immortality. Historically anchored in religious and spiritual traditions, this desire has evolved to encompass modern technology and personal beliefs. In Afterlife, SMACK presents a satirical examination of these diverse interpretations, blending ancient and contemporary symbols to highlight humanity’s envision of existence beyond the grave. Juxtaposing traditional deities, mythical beings, and futuristic elements, Afterlife offers a thought-provoking commentary on our quest to transcend mortality.

SMACK’s new artwork is divided into several distinct layers, each depicting different aspects of the afterlife. At the horizon, a diverse array of deities from various cultures and mythologies, such as Zeus, Odin, and Ganesha, stand as mere spectators with glowing white eyes. In the centre of the afterlife, a vulva-shaped temple serves as a portal of rebirth. Guarded by ghostly servants, new souls are welcomed like stars on a Hollywood red carpet. Showbiz-like stairs lead to this entrance, where a fanfare band accompanies the welcome. Above the portal, the Tree of Life blooms with golden fruits.

Larger-than-life figures from human history are celebrated for their extraordinary achievements and placed on pedestals that perpetually move up and down. These individuals, like Steve Jobs, Elvis, and Leonardo da Vinci, have transcended their mortal lives, earning a revered status in this afterlife. These demigods observe the arena in the middle pit from their higher-status balconies. In the arena, occupied by humans rather than gods, characters are absorbed in their own bliss and self-importance. The present souls are depicted with distorted and inflated perceptions of themselves, representing false enlightenment and exaggerated grandeur. Symbols of wealth, luxury, and technological advancements reflect the pursuit of eternal youth and the denial of mortality. The gods and demigods, once revered, now merely observe as humans take centre stage, highlighting the importance placed on the individual in contemporary culture.

Afterlife serves as a satirical reflection on humanity’s obsession with identity, individuality, and the pursuit of immortality through technological and spiritual means. By elevating humans to the central stage and relegating gods to mere spectators, Afterlife examines the contemporary shift in values where ego and self-image have supplanted traditional divine reverence. The hierarchical layers —from gods observing from afar to the self-absorbed superegos in the arena— highlight the evolving nature of spirituality and self-importance in contemporary culture.

Following the reflection initiated in SPECULUM — the contemporary reinterpretation of Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights —, the Dutch collective elaborates a distinctive, over-informed and multi-layered concept of the 21st-century Heaven. Detailing the contemporary landscape, SMACK dissects modern society’s concern with identity, the emergence of new values and individualist social logics, inviting viewers to reflect on the implications of these beliefs, blending ancient and modern perspectives to challenge our understanding of immortality and self-identity.