VPG Exhibition: HALLOWEEN

“Scary monsters…Super creeps…Keep me running…Running scared” David Bowie

“Happy Halloween, everybody! This is it! This is the BIG ONE! It's my kind of holiday you know. Why? Because that's when the devils come out.” Frank Zappa 

The custom of putting up pumpkins for Halloween originates from Ireland. According to legend, the villain Jack Oldfield lived there. He trapped the devil with a trick and would only release him if he would no longer get in Jack O'Lantern's way. After Jack's death, he was not allowed to go to heaven because of his actions, but Jack was also not allowed to go to hell because he had deceived the devil. But the devil took pity on him and gave him a turnip and a glowing coal so that Jack could wander through the darkness. The origin of the illuminated pumpkin was therefore an illuminated turnip, but since pumpkins were available in abundance in the United States, people hollowed out a pumpkin instead. This pumpkin has since become known as a Jack O'Lantern. To scare away evil spirits, people carved faces into pumpkins to light up the yard in front of their houses.
Why do we love Halloween so much? Are we all junkies? It certainly seems that way. Otherwise, we wouldn't love to be scared so much. No wonder: Hormones rush during this pleasurable rendezvous with fear. The adrenaline rush makes you happy. And begs for more. Poster designers take advantage of this and present monsters that get under your skin...

Original posters. No reprints. Authenticity guaranteed.