Lingering underneath the surface

Handmade artwork for Jordan Peele’s film, “Us”

Something lurks below us in Jordan Peele’s masterful horror film, “Us,” existing in the margins, waiting for the moment to emerge and take their place in the world by whatever means necessary. For this piece, I wanted to craft something that reflected this idea of breaking forth from behind a facade. After crafting the gothic-inspired type lockup for the film’s title, I first wood burned the design, then tiled over the piece. Once the tile had set, I cracked the center open to get the organic, real impact of the subway wall literally crumbling from behind. Add some dirt and a healthy amount of fake blood and—voilà! A horror piece come to life.