Squid Game became a remarkable TV series on Netflix that performed well in all aspects. The survival drama gained more than 111 million views in the first month of release, crowning it the most popular series ever on Netflix.

The plot in the series was uniquely curved out to combine many aspects of the industry and, most importantly, the art incorporated. For example, director Hwang Dong-hyuk admitted to referencing the works of Belgian painter Rene Magritte’s iconic painting “The Empire of Light.” This was among the many artworks that inspired the Netflix show.

The show, being a global success should not be missed. If you’re looking for shows or movies to watch on Netflix Australia, we’d suggest watching Squid Games because the thrill, suspense, irony, drama and adventure in the series is mind-blowing. In this article, are the seven artistic inspirations that got featured in the series and their source.

The Scream by Edvard Munch
Set on the first episode of the series, in the game "Red Light, Green Light," the shooting scenes cause terror across the players as they did not expect that being eliminated meant death. A streak of fear gets sent through the group. The splashing of blood on the face of another player, The Scream, is brought to life.

The doleful effeminate piece done by Edvard in 1893 found a place once again in a great setting. The art blended perfectly with the emotion that was depicted by the scene in the first episode. It expresses anguish, fear and despair, much like the story behind the iconic painting of Munch's anxiety.

Relativity by M.C. Escher
The illogical staircase through which the guards led players to new games or back to the rooms was recurrent in most episodes. The staircase design was inspired by Relativity, an extraordinary artwork by Maurits Cornelis Escher from Denmark done in 1953.

The original art has anonymous uniformly dressed figures spread out in the staircase with no sense of direction. In the series, the players and the guards had similar attire, respectively. They moved about along the intermixed staircases that could not show where exactly they headed.

La Muralla Roja by Ricardo Bofill
Still, on the illogical staircase, film director Hwang borrowed the colour and design concept from Ricardo's La Muralla Roja, a masterpiece done originally in 1973. The colourful steps made them even more mysterious as they all led to almost similar doors.

Tracing the history of the monumental building, Ricardo collaborates with a fort appearance and Arabic architectural traditions. He does that by using similar structures but with distinct augmenting. The design of the staircases in the series depicts a similar concept in the plot as the doors lead to different places.

The Empire of Light by Rene Magritte
In the second episode, Jun-ho follows up on a clue to find his lost brother and finds many artistic monographs featured like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Monet in his brother’s rented room. However, the most highlighted one related to the plot is Magritte’s piece,

The Empire of Light.
The surrealist artists behind the pieces on this scene had a way to express their unconscious mind as they represented a dream in their work. The Empire of Light featured night in the lower half but a day-lit sky on the upper half.

Hegel’s Holiday by Rene Magritte
On the second challenge the players faced, they were tasked with carving out shapes from Dalgona candy, an exercise known to cause a high level of distress. One of the shapes a quarter of the group is to cut out is Rene's famous umbrella.

On another of Magritte’s imaginative pieces, Hwang Dong-hyuk shows how much this surrealist inspires him. The image ironically featured two opposing concepts, a glass of water presented on an umbrella, a water repellent. This shows the nature of the games in the game; easy yet so complex.

The Rothschild Surrealist Ball
The setting on the seventh episode showcases yet other art inspired scenes. The golden masks worn by the rich VIP backers of the illegal game are a good replica of those used in one of the extravagant surreal parties hosted by the Rothschilds in 1972.

The party's host was one of the wealthiest families at the time. In addition, the extravagant party had famous guests such as Catalan painter Salvador Dali. In the setting of the series, these wealthy men get well represented even though disguising their faces.

The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago
The second last episode in the series shows yet another work of art. It revives the famous artwork, The Dinner Party, done by Judy Chicago. Only three players remain in the game, so a three-sided shaped last dinner setting would do as they await their demise.

The Dinner Party was held in 1979, showcasing a sizable triangular dinner set up with 39 place settings and unique dishes to celebrate historical women. There was almost no better way to celebrate these players who had made it that far in the game in the series.

Conclusion
Squid Games was one of the most considerable successes in Netflix's production. It also brought to life some of the greatest works of art, as shown in this article. Other artistic references might get featured as well, but these were the most elaborate and intentional. The themes blended in perfectly, making the series a global success. It’s a show worth watching on Netflix.