If you never thought that you would be creeped out by gallery artwork, think again.

Artists Daniela Sneppova and Fiona Kinsella teamed up in Western’s own McIntosh Gallery to present haunting artwork and installations that push far past any sort of normal comfort zone. From cakes and vampires to taxidermy and hair, the satisfying shock value of both exhibits make the gallery a highly recommended pit stop between classes.

MONSTROUSLY ARTISTIC. Two new exhibits by Daniela Sneppova (above) and Fiona Kinsella at the McIntosh Gallery will inspire and put chills down your spine.

The ongoing vampire fad provided lots of thematic explorations for Sneppova’s I think I love you but I have chosen darkness series of portraits. The artist — who is also a visual arts and faculty of information and media studies professor at Western — seized the opportunity to communicate gender issues within the craze.

“It’s really strange that these stories don’t empower women,” Sneppova says.

Considering Twilight, True Blood, and The Vampire Diaries each feature a human girl succumbing to the lure of a male vampire, there seems to be an exploitation of gender imbalance.

Sneppova’s installation gives this common pop culture trait a 180-degree flip to alternatively present female characters as the empowered seducers.

“I think that the vampire is a really interesting idea of the monstrous-feminine, where they’re still kind of attractive,” Sneppova says.

The cultivation of this idea is obvious in the main projection piece of her exhibit. Combined shots of female actresses with vampire fangs hissing and cackling create a genuinely hair-raising experience.

“This is more document-based. I really like working with other people, doing performance, and documenting it,” Sneppova says.

Although the images and sinister soundtrack can be interpreted as frightening, Sneppova recognizes the humour that can be found in each piece through their over-the-top presentation.

Other works in Sneppova’s section of the gallery also utilize film as the primary medium. Capturing shots of elaborate taxidermy displays in museums and historical landmarks associated with vampire legends, the featured visuals are stimulating.

Fiona Kinsella's The Wilderness

Fiona Kinsella’s The Wilderness also flirts with concepts of pleasure and horror. The artist created a plethora of decorated cakes with subtle accents of glass eyeballs, hair and teeth to create a completely unique exhibition.

“Basically, the cakes reference religious relics, so if you’re aware of that, you can see that immediately,” Kinsella says. “If you’re not aware of it, it doesn’t matter because the other point of entry is the cake.”

The eerie and unexpected objects on each cake dictate a specific story about saints who have been praised and martyred over time. One doesn’t have to be religious to appreciate the fine detail and unsettling allure of each piece. Bones, spoons and even porcupine quills on frilled cakes are beyond interesting as is.

“I don’t necessarily believe in all of the stories, or even believe in saints, but the stories about them are beautiful,” Kinsella says.

The artist has been accumulating these objects from various vendors, friends and locations all around the world. Every cake is entirely unique, and this is primarily due to its adornment.

“I’m interested in beauty and the potential of beauty to be able to completely consume you and in effect change you to some degree,” Kinsella says.

These quirky cakes, along with vampires and more, can be viewed at the McIntosh Gallery for the next month.

The exhibit runs from Jan. 14-Feb. 27 at the McIntosh Gallery on campus.