Apocalypse Wow 

Editor: "Apocalypse Wow" by Ben Frost, painted with acrylics, is incredibly striking. The skull imagery mixed with pop art elements is a bit unsettling, even. What are your initial thoughts on how this artwork is addressing societal issues? Curator: It's certainly provocative. Looking at "Apocalypse Wow," I see a visual commentary on our culture's simultaneous fascination and dread regarding global catastrophes. The artist uses Pop Art aesthetics—bright colors, cartoonish imagery—to package a deeply unsettling message. Doesn't the title itself suggest a kind of morbid excitement? Editor: It does. Almost like the end of the world is entertainment. What about the city depicted as teeth? That seems to symbolize impending doom, doesn't it? Curator: Exactly. And by framing the cityscape as teeth, about to consume or be consumed, Frost connects the apocalyptic threat to the very structures we've built. Are we devouring ourselves through unsustainable practices, perhaps? And think about the two massive, vacant eye sockets: are they watching us, or is no one at the wheel? The unsettling question here is who bears responsibility, or who is at fault? Editor: I see what you mean. So, Frost isn’t just pointing fingers but implicating society as a whole? Curator: Precisely. This piece reflects a wider historical anxiety about technology and unchecked progress. It is worth researching Frost's influences – are they comic books, advertising or news? By adopting this approach Frost implicates and critiques our own viewing pleasures. Editor: That makes the image even more powerful. I had initially focused on the immediate shock value, but now I see layers of social commentary embedded in the playful aesthetic. Curator: That's the power of art; to disguise critique as commodity. Ultimately, it compels us to reflect on our role in shaping the future and question the narratives we consume daily.