Aliens – Xenomorph, Lynn Shang

Medium: Digital

“‘Aliens – Xenomorph’ is a digital illustration created as the final project for my Editorial Illustration class at Pratt SCPS this past summer. The piece takes the form of a movie review, reimagining the themes of Aliens, the most celebrated film in the Alien franchise. Rather than focusing solely on the iconic creature, the work highlights the sinister corporate interests behind the story—the hidden hand attempting to weaponize the xenomorphs. This concept also gestures toward the upcoming series Alien: Earth, extending the commentary into the present moment.

In alignment with the exhibition theme Expanse, this illustration explores how popular culture can be expanded into editorial commentary, transforming a science-fiction narrative into visual critique. By layering horror iconography with corporate imagery, the piece connects entertainment, politics, and ethical questions, stretching the boundaries of illustration into storytelling and cultural analysis.

The Editorial Illustration course inspired me to approach illustration not only as an artistic practice but also as a platform for ideas. Learning how to distill narrative, symbolism, and critique into a single image challenged me to think differently about communication. Aliens – Xenomorph reflects that growth, expanding my practice into both visual and conceptual space.”