Funhouse 

Sue Coe's "Funhouse" presents us with a stark vision rendered in monochrome. Grotesque figures populate one side, their distorted features echoing age-old fears of the demonic. The motif of the monstrous is ancient, appearing in Goya’s "Los Caprichos" and Bosch’s infernal visions. But here, Coe makes a connection with modern figures. These demons, symbols of societal ills, are juxtaposed with portraits of political figures. The monstrous, as a visual trope, reflects a deep psychological unease. In its historical journey, the monster embodies societal fears – the fear of the unknown, the fear of moral decay. Consider the gargoyles of Gothic cathedrals, meant to ward off evil. Here, the figures seem to represent the very evil they were meant to repel. Through her work, Coe touches on the cyclical nature of history and the enduring presence of primal fears, tapping into a subconscious recognition of the monstrous lurking beneath the surface of normalcy.