Leatherface – Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 2020

Robert Sammelin made this poster for ‘Leatherface – Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3’ sometime in the 20th century, using a palette of crimson and cobalt to portray images of horror. It's a digital work, but I can relate to it because the process of making art, any art, is like wrestling with chaos, turning mess into something meaningful, or at least striking. Check out how Sammelin divides the frame, splitting it right down the middle between the red and blue halves, one luridly illuminated, the other drowned in shadow. This reminds me of the way we try to make sense of the world, splitting things into either-or categories, good and bad, right and wrong. But then, right in the centre, is that gleaming blade, with its inscription ‘The Saw is Family’, blurring the line, mixing up binaries. I’m fascinated by the way this image pulls you in, even as it scares you away. It’s like looking into the abyss and finding something strangely beautiful, or maybe just strangely familiar staring back. This reminds me a bit of Goya, another artist with an eye for the dark side. Both challenge us to confront the uncomfortable, reminding us that horror and beauty are often two sides of the same coin.