The "Western Saga" project originated from the Millemila Copertine Contest by Zero, a competition that inspired me to explore new creative horizons, far from the urban context we are often accustomed to. What initially began as a single project for the contest evolved into a trilogy of three illustrations, each representing a piece of a larger, more complex mosaic, rich in references to the past and infused with a subtle sense of irony.

With "Western Saga," I aimed to completely dissociate the setting from the modernity of contemporary cities, instead embarking on a mental journey to desolate lands and distant times. My mind wandered through the dusty deserts of the old West, bringing to light iconic figures and symbols that characterized the classic spaghetti-western films of the '60s and '70s. These films, steeped in myths and legends, have long embodied the Italian collective imagination of the old West, populated by solitary and captivating gunslingers, whose lives were marked by deadly duels, excessive alcohol use, the gold rush, bank robberies, and the harsh law of the desert.

In my work, I sought to capture the essence of these mythical elements, reinterpreting them through an ironic and irreverent lens. My illustrations do not merely evoke the tension and violence typical of westerns but aim to lighten their intensity, transforming them into moments of subtle humor.

Here, you can see the cover created for Zero, the three graphic works that make up the saga, and the color version designed for Design my Cover. Each illustration is a small journey through time, a tribute to a bygone era that continues to live on in the collective imagination, with a modern twist that nods to the present.