Squid Game is Netflix’s most successful series and is about a contest where disadvantaged people are enticed to participate in children’s games. Their prize is a large amount of money, but the stakes turn out to be deadly because losers who are eliminated from the game must die.
The Korean series is the most-watched show on Netflix and has won multiple awards, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, People’s Choice Awards, and many more.
The show takes in a lot of inspiration, making it unique compared to other shows in the industry. Squid Game is a must-watch for those who prefer shows with lots of irony, drama, suspense, thrill, and adventure.
The show’s storyline is hard to ignore, and Squid Game is a visual spectacle that dazzles in every way. The Squid Game stands out in special effects, cinematography, artistic inspirations, and performances. Squid Game is one of the best shows to watch on US Netflix and is miles ahead of the rest.
The following are seven main artistic inspirations featured in the Squid Game series.
The Scream Inspired by Edvard Munch
The scream artistic reference is the most prevalent in the Squid Game and appears in the first episode. In this scene, we meet the participants in the game “Red Light, Green Light, ” revealing a lot.
The players knew that losers would be kicked out, but they never thought they would be eliminated in the real sense of the word. The shooting sparks terror among the players, blood splashing on another player’s face.
This scene references Edvard Munch’s artwork, The Scream, recreating the figure of the painting to the last detail. It’s a clear indication that Squid Game is one of the terrifying shows to watch on American Netflix.
Relativity by M.C. Escher
The relativity theme appears throughout the series, but nothing depicts it better than the staircase that shows up with no logical sense. Participants in the Squid Game walk through the illogical staircase for new challenges or return to the main room.
The staircase design is based on the work of Maurits Cornelis Escher, Relativity, where identically dressed figures wander through stairs in a world that defies gravity. Unfortunately, the players and the guards were uniformly dressed, so you couldn’t tell who was who, and they moved in staircases that didn’t depict a sense of direction.
La Muralla Roja by Ricardo Bofill
The color and design of the illogical staircase are based on Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill’s housing project La Muralla Roja or The Red Wall.
The staircases have a striking similarity to Bofill’s mysterious project because they all lead to similar doors. In the artwork, Bofill takes inspiration from Arabic architectural designs, specifically the Kasbah structures in Morocco.
The design of the staircases has the same concept as the plot of the series, but they lead to different places.
The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago
The reference to The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago is clear in one of the most chilling scenes of the series. It takes place in the penultimate episode of the series, where only three players remain in the game.
The three players take part in a three-sided triangular-shaped dinner setting as they await their fate.
The triangular-shaped dinner setting and white tablecloths channel Judy Chicago’s famous artwork, The Dinner Party. The piece features a triangular table with 39 plate settings with an assortment of dishes. The artwork celebrates the women who have made history in one way or another.
The director Hwang Dong-hyuk used this piece of art as a way to celebrate the three players who’ve made it this far in the Squid Game.
The Empire of Light by Rene Magritte
Fans of Rene Magritte were taken back in the second episode when Jun-ho tried to find his lost brother. We see various books and paintings by Rene Magritte in the scene, including the iconic, The Empire of Light.
The artwork incorporates day and night, where the darkness is in the lower half while the lit-up sky is in the top half.
The Rothschild Surrealist Ball
The Rothschild family was one of the wealthiest globally and was known for throwing one of the most extraordinary parties worldwide. The party had renowned guests such as Audrey Hepburn (one of the top actors of the day) and painter Salvador Dali. The family brought together wealthy and influential people from all over the world for a party unlike any other.
The party was marred by urban legends and lots of conspiracy theories. The dressing was unusual; guests wore animal masks, and the staff dressed as felines. The theme of the party referenced the satanic rituals of the Illuminati.
This inspiration is clear in the seventh episode, where the rich VIP backers of the illegitimate game wear golden masks.
Hegel’s Holiday by Rene Magritte
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk must like the works of Rene Magritte, which is clear in the second episode. In this episode, the participants are tasked to make carvings from Dalgona Candy. This is one of the most distressful exercises, and one-quarter of the group is tasked to carve out Rene’s famous umbrella.
The original image features two concepts, a glass of water on top of an umbrella. But, if you think about it, the director lets us know that the games will be easy (children’s games) yet complex.
Final Words
Squid Game is a successful series and has broken Netflix’s streaming records. The show has a mysterious plot and features some of the greatest artworks to drive the plot. The director used art prevalently in this series, but these seven are elaborate. Most importantly, the themes and inspiration blend in for a successful show.