A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, Darth Vader was a Grecian god. At least, that's what <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.travisdurden.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Travis Durden</a> would have you believe. The pop-culture-obsessed artist (the clue's in his moniker, which mixes "Taxi Driver" with "Fight Club") has re-imagined characters from Star Wars as mythological beings of ancient Greece, and the results are uncanny to say the least. <br /><br />Featured at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.galerie-sakura.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Sakura Gallery</a> in Paris, his creations are part of "L'Expo Contre Attaque," an exhibition focusing on artistic interpretations of George Lucas' iconic film series. Gallery co-owner Matthieu Taravella says Star Wars was an ideal source material: "The production of the movies, the characters and set designs are already works of art ... What our artists have done is to build upon that art, create another layer with their personal understanding of the movies and the Star Wars universe."
Darth Resurrection, Travis Durden —
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, Darth Vader was a Grecian god. At least, that's what Travis Durden would have you believe. The pop-culture-obsessed artist (the clue's in his moniker, which mixes "Taxi Driver" with "Fight Club") has re-imagined characters from Star Wars as mythological beings of ancient Greece, and the results are uncanny to say the least.

Featured at the Sakura Gallery in Paris, his creations are part of "L'Expo Contre Attaque," an exhibition focusing on artistic interpretations of George Lucas' iconic film series. Gallery co-owner Matthieu Taravella says Star Wars was an ideal source material: "The production of the movies, the characters and set designs are already works of art ... What our artists have done is to build upon that art, create another layer with their personal understanding of the movies and the Star Wars universe."
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Travis Durden
Durden's starting points were classical nudes at the Louvre in Paris. The artist photographed Grecian statues at the famous museum before digitally sculpting his own versions from faux marble. His creations have us questioning everything: Can stormtroopers even read? Are they into classics? What would Aristotle say about their futile attempts to quash the Rebel Alliance?
Storm Reader, Travis Durden —
Durden's starting points were classical nudes at the Louvre in Paris. The artist photographed Grecian statues at the famous museum before digitally sculpting his own versions from faux marble. His creations have us questioning everything: Can stormtroopers even read? Are they into classics? What would Aristotle say about their futile attempts to quash the Rebel Alliance?
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Travis Durden
Rebel heroes come crashing down to Earth in <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.danielpicard.com%2F%23%21%2Findex" target="_blank" target="_blank">Daniel Picard's</a> "Figure Fantasy." R2-D2 may be the pluckiest astromech this side of the galaxy, but he never had to deal with speedbumps in the days of the Empire. Even Palpatine wasn't that sadistic. <br />
R2 Speedbump, Daniel Picard —
Rebel heroes come crashing down to Earth in Daniel Picard's "Figure Fantasy." R2-D2 may be the pluckiest astromech this side of the galaxy, but he never had to deal with speedbumps in the days of the Empire. Even Palpatine wasn't that sadistic.
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Daniel Picard
Snowtroopers: It must be so hard being shot all the time. There they are on icy planet Hoth, perfectly camouflaged, and yet they're still fodder for shoot-from-the-hip Han. At least Picard allows them to make some sweet snow angels as they lie fallen from one of Solo's errant blaster shots.
Snowtrooper Angel, Daniel Picard —
Snowtroopers: It must be so hard being shot all the time. There they are on icy planet Hoth, perfectly camouflaged, and yet they're still fodder for shoot-from-the-hip Han. At least Picard allows them to make some sweet snow angels as they lie fallen from one of Solo's errant blaster shots.
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Daniel Picard
Thierry Vivien appropriates actual historical events with aircraft from the Star Wars universe. In 2003, Captain Chris Stricklin crashed his F-16 fighter jet at an air show in Idaho, pulling the ejector seat 0.8 seconds before the plane hit the ground. We don't know whether TIE fighters came with similar apparatus, but if the<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F10%2F19%2Fentertainment%2Fstar-wars-force-awakens-final-trailer-feat%2F"> Force Awakens trailer </a>is anything to go by, Finn needs one.
TIE Advanced Fighter Idaho, Thierry Vivien —
Thierry Vivien appropriates actual historical events with aircraft from the Star Wars universe. In 2003, Captain Chris Stricklin crashed his F-16 fighter jet at an air show in Idaho, pulling the ejector seat 0.8 seconds before the plane hit the ground. We don't know whether TIE fighters came with similar apparatus, but if the Force Awakens trailer is anything to go by, Finn needs one.
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Thierry Vivien
Also known as the man responsible for the satirical cartoons of <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yodablog.net%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Yodablog</a>, Vivien's crashed TIE fighter in Saint Malo alludes to a tragic ferry accident some 20 years ago -- whilst also looking like the surface of Jakku, featured in Episode VII.
The Fighter Saint Malo, Thierry Vivien —
Also known as the man responsible for the satirical cartoons of Yodablog, Vivien's crashed TIE fighter in Saint Malo alludes to a tragic ferry accident some 20 years ago -- whilst also looking like the surface of Jakku, featured in Episode VII.
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Thierry Vivien
Even Sith lords need to spend some time on the throne every now and again. Although for Ian Pool's domesticated Vader, perhaps it would have been wiser to have read the Death Star manual instead.
Darth Vader, Ian Pool —
Even Sith lords need to spend some time on the throne every now and again. Although for Ian Pool's domesticated Vader, perhaps it would have been wiser to have read the Death Star manual instead.
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Ian Pool
David Eger's project, "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.365daysofclones.com%2F365-days-of-clones%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">365 Days of Clones</a>" apes iconic images from the past. And with J.J. Abrams confirming that stormtroopers in the Force Awakens will be female too, what better timing than to recreate the iconic shot from V-J Day of a sailor stealing a kiss in Times Square, New York.
The Cloned Kiss, David Eger —
David Eger's project, "365 Days of Clones" apes iconic images from the past. And with J.J. Abrams confirming that stormtroopers in the Force Awakens will be female too, what better timing than to recreate the iconic shot from V-J Day of a sailor stealing a kiss in Times Square, New York.
courtesy Galerie Sakura/David Eger
Bounty hunter Boba Fett and Jedi master Yoda has to be one of the most curveball bromances ever thought up by the Star Wars fandom, and yet Eger manages to make it work in this pastiche of Stephen Spielberg's sci-fi classic "E.T."
B.F. Boba Fett, David Eger —
Bounty hunter Boba Fett and Jedi master Yoda has to be one of the most curveball bromances ever thought up by the Star Wars fandom, and yet Eger manages to make it work in this pastiche of Stephen Spielberg's sci-fi classic "E.T."
courtesy Galerie Sakura/David Eger
Perhaps inspired by many a stormtrooper's wooden performance, Anthony Knapik-Bridenne went the whole nine yards and crafted a helmet from the medium. But would it protect against <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJa4v-qiFvBg" target="_blank" target="_blank">Death Star blast doors</a>?
Stormtrooper Mask, Anthony Knapik-Bridenne —
Perhaps inspired by many a stormtrooper's wooden performance, Anthony Knapik-Bridenne went the whole nine yards and crafted a helmet from the medium. But would it protect against Death Star blast doors?
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Anthony Knapik Bridenne
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thomasdagg.com%2Fstarwars%230" target="_blank" target="_blank">Thomas Dagg</a> describes his photo manipulations as "a glimpse into my mind at eight years old." Well, Dagg's childhood appears to be locked in a Hoth-like permafrost; atmospheric and chilling. Then again, a morning commute on a tauntaun would be pretty cool, right?
Untitled 7, Thomas Dagg —
Thomas Dagg describes his photo manipulations as "a glimpse into my mind at eight years old." Well, Dagg's childhood appears to be locked in a Hoth-like permafrost; atmospheric and chilling. Then again, a morning commute on a tauntaun would be pretty cool, right?
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Thomas Dagg
Of course, most commutes don't come with the added threat of Imperial AT-ATs. The life of a Rebel scout working a nine-to-five: No one said it would be easy.
Untitled 4, Thomas Dagg —
Of course, most commutes don't come with the added threat of Imperial AT-ATs. The life of a Rebel scout working a nine-to-five: No one said it would be easy.
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Thomas Dagg
Imperial probe droids were always a bit snoopy (just ask Chewbacca), but no one knew they were voyeurs too.
Untitled 10, Thomas Dagg —
Imperial probe droids were always a bit snoopy (just ask Chewbacca), but no one knew they were voyeurs too.
courtesy Thomas Dagg/Galerie Sakura
After the Battle of Endor, the life of a stormtrooper became somewhat less attractive. New images from Episode VII suggest some went on to become the First Order, but <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hyperactivestudio.net%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Hyperactive Studios</a> seems to imply those that didn't went on to become a human pyramid troupe -- and a good one too.
Stormtrooper, Hyperactive Studio —
After the Battle of Endor, the life of a stormtrooper became somewhat less attractive. New images from Episode VII suggest some went on to become the First Order, but Hyperactive Studios seems to imply those that didn't went on to become a human pyramid troupe -- and a good one too.
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Hyperactive Studio
English typography artist Pete Ware proves that the Star Wars scripts are just as iconic as the characters. Harrison Ford may have complained to director George Lucas that "you can type this, but you sure can't say it," but that hasn't stopped fans worldwide repeating the films verbatim for the past three and a half decades.
Oil Bath Bleep, Pete Ware —
English typography artist Pete Ware proves that the Star Wars scripts are just as iconic as the characters. Harrison Ford may have complained to director George Lucas that "you can type this, but you sure can't say it," but that hasn't stopped fans worldwide repeating the films verbatim for the past three and a half decades.
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Pete Ware
You too, Obi Wan, you too. <br /><br />"Contre Attaque" runs at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.galerie-sakura.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Sakura Gallery</a> until January 15.
The Force, Pete Ware —
You too, Obi Wan, you too.

"Contre Attaque" runs at the Sakura Gallery until January 15.
courtesy Galerie Sakura/Pete Ware