Armors are often worn in battle to protect a hero to ward off any damage. To top that, helmets are worn to defend the most vital body part: the head. But aside from keeping external forces off its wearer, helmets also conceal the character, keep their secret life anonymous, and hide the deepest insecurities away from the grasps of the world. We are prodded to ask, which one is real? Is it the face on the helmet that the world has grown accustomed to? Or is it the person underneath?

 

Kobusher’s solo exhibit candidly displays his pop culture influences. Despite the distorted forms of these iconic characters, their headgear remains distinguishable, diving into our nostalgia. The feast of solid, vibrant colors, and clean, definitive lines emit excitement and freshness that could only be attributed to our youth. But with these timeless heroes and villains as his subject, Helmet encourages us to embrace our inner child, and to welcome the various identities we both present to the world and conceal from it.