Juri Han 

Curator: Here we have Stanley Artgerm Lau's striking painting of Juri Han. The artwork uses acrylics to create a portrait full of energy. Editor: My immediate impression is fierce determination, a really striking use of dynamism, the figure in a powerful forward movement...and is that almost a cheeky grin? Curator: Lau captures her playful cruelty beautifully. It’s incredible how a single gesture can convey so much about a character's spirit. And think about acrylics here, layering vibrant hues in the purple spectrum. Lau really knows how to blend high art sensibilities with character design. Editor: Absolutely! The layers speak to craft itself. There's a materiality to that digital layering too. It’s fascinating to consider how the means of production shape our relationship with these iconic characters. How has her image been marketed? Sold? Consumed? Is it available as a skin? It changes our viewing relationship. Curator: Yes, the interplay of high art and product... It brings the conversation back to Juri herself. Her outfit's almost utilitarian. A mix of function and the artist's sense of her, with her costume details serving as a way to deepen the sense of power. Editor: Note those wrappings and gloves too! The artist’s brushwork and attention to detail celebrates not just high design but practical functionality. A warrior is someone defined by constant preparation. I almost feel a sense of…exhaustion alongside empowerment! How many figures do we think about purely through consumption, even with something that may not necessarily have started that way? Curator: Hmm, yes. It adds another layer of understanding. Artgerm, and his approach makes you reflect on art's ability to shape not only the world, but how we see ourselves within it. A bit like looking into a gorgeous, dangerous mirror. Editor: Precisely! This painting of Juri offers so much richness precisely through its mix of fantasy, skillful use of material, and implications within gaming culture. A lot of complexity, all delivered with bold immediacy.