DV Posse 

Editor: So, this is *DV Posse* by Alex Gross, an oil painting mixing realism with surreal elements. I am immediately struck by the odd combination of sci-fi characters with modern, almost mundane details, all set against a very classical landscape. How do you interpret this work? Curator: What leaps out at me is how Gross is tapping into our collective cultural memory. Star Wars, Cheetos, the dog—these are all instantly recognizable images and signifiers. They're loaded with cultural meaning. But it's more than just a random collection. Darth Vader with a purse and poodle challenges our established understanding. How does it feel to see him that way? Editor: Confused, I guess? He looks both imposing and ridiculous. Curator: Exactly. It creates tension. Think of Vader's original representation as evil incarnate versus this defanged, almost domesticated version. Gross is asking us to consider how symbols can be divorced from their original context, how they can be re-imagined and re-appropriated to create new meaning, new mythologies. And did you notice the floating colorful orbs? Editor: Yes! They don't seem to fit logically within the scene. Curator: Perhaps representing memory, nostalgia. This links to Pop Surrealism—Gross uses familiar figures to build uncanny connections to our shared memories, almost like a modern Hieronymus Bosch with more approachable pop culture imagery. Editor: It’s strange how placing such recognizable characters in an unexpected setting changes the way you perceive them and the references they carry. I now want to dissect every symbol! Curator: That's exactly the point. By mixing high and low culture, humor and pathos, Gross encourages us to re-examine our own relationship with these ingrained images. He wants us to look closer.