Unmasking The Idol 

Editor: Here we have "Unmasking the Idol" by Robert Sammelin, presented as a poster. The retro, almost pulpy feel is really hitting me; it's like a movie poster that's daring to be both serious and silly. What jumps out at you in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, a glorious explosion of narrative captured on a single plane. The layering here is like a waking dream. Don't you find how the artist brings together all of these characters from some adventure story – the mysterious man in the fedora, the blonde barbarian, that menacing skull…and that guy holding a gun right at us!. It feels incredibly cinematic, maybe like a nostalgic glance at a series that never was but should've been! Editor: It definitely has that "so bad, it's good" kind of vibe, but is there more to it than just fun, escapist fantasy? Curator: Maybe! Sammelin is inviting us to play, and dig into some pulp sensibilities. Who are Duncan Jax and Boon? What kind of adventure warrants this many characters and explosions? Or, alternatively, he could be doing his own quirky commentary on escapism itself. What stories do we tell ourselves to get through life, and who are the colorful characters we cast ourselves alongside? That golden skull at the top -- a promise of something larger-than-life, perhaps? It leaves me feeling very entertained and strangely melancholic, all at once. Editor: I see what you mean. It's playful but also gets you thinking about the stories we create. Thanks for shedding light on this; it really helps me appreciate the artistry involved, even in something so seemingly tongue-in-cheek! Curator: Absolutely. Sometimes the most profound things hide behind a wink and a smile! And hopefully, that wink inspired another creative adventure in you!