Get ‘Haunted’ at the SCAD Museum of Art
Written by Emma Morris. Photograph by Emma Morris.
Artist Andrew Roberts’ exhibit at the SCAD Museum of Art (MOA) utilizes digital media, horror aesthetics and his personal experiences to curate an other-worldly experience for viewers. The 21-minute animated film “Haunted” draws from Roberts’ experiences growing up in Tijuana, Mexico, as well as the political and economic affairs between the U.S. and Mexico.
The exhibit vestibule contains different objects, such as a mop bucket and garbage cans, in order to set the tone and prepare visitors for the preceding film. The immersive experience invites viewers to enter through transparent storefront doors into a dark room containing four red, metal tables. Each table is accompanied by a 3D-printed sculpture of a mascot arm holding various objects. These immersive elements allow viewers to understand Roberts’ inspiration drawn from immigration policies. The tables are meant to mimic similar ones located at a Jack In The Box restaurant on the U.S.-Mexico border, frequented by Roberts in his youth. The motif of the fast-food chain also plays into the perpetuated idea of consumerism and over-consumption in the United States.
The main character(s) in “Haunted” are silhouettes in reference to the mascot from Jack In The Box. The SCAD MOA description refers to these as “spectral manifestations.” Throughout the film these manifestations take on different mediums, beginning as dark voids and ending as incarnations of glowing, red light.
The film is divided into three parts, or “invocations” as Roberts called them, in which each part is accompanied by ambiguous narration and a custom soundtrack by Tijuana-born musician Espectro Caudillo. As the content throughout the invocations gets more intense and enigmatic, the music does as well. There are equal elements of recognizable imagery and cryptic, nebulous representations and scenes.
Roberts’ style of animation comes from his background as a gamer. In his artist talk at the SCAD MOA, Roberts discussed his love for horror video games such as Silent Hill, which served as inspiration for his work. “Haunted” was created in a video game software, rather than an application dedicated to 3D animation.
Due to its enigmatic quality, the film takes on many meanings, allowing each visitor to have a unique and personalized experience based on their own background and perspective. Although Roberts’ own experience serves as a guide for the work, the film is not strictly black and white, opening the experience to visitors of all backgrounds. “Haunted” is on view until Jan. 5, 2026. Don’t miss the chance to experience the one-of-a-kind film and the impressive array of detail within the exhibit.
