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Some illustrations play the role of entertaining, others are created to inspire, and there are some powerful images who deliver a strong message and are thought-provoking. This is the case with award-winning conceptual illustrator Stephan Schmitz based in Zürich, Switzerland who creates clever and unique artworks that perfectly depict the modern world.

Stephan Schmitz's creative ideas are like visual metaphors that tell simple stories revealing the true face of our world. The visual storytelling surprises us with symbolism and depth which some of us long for in the world where everything is already thought for us. Many of us will recognize the hidden and suppressed emotions that we tend to keep to ourselves because they are hard to talk about.

Every creative drawing is like a puzzle that a viewer has to solve as the subject matter can only be seen if you take a really good look at it. The artist only provides us visual clues and we are the ones who have to connect the dots. His choice of a subtle palette of colors makes these illustrations surreal and obscure reflecting on not so simple matters. So we invite you to take a look at these mind-bending illustrations and consider how much they really represent our lives and social issues that we encounter. If you will want to see more of his illustrations, you can also check his previous post here on Bored Panda.

More info: Instagram | stephan-schmitz.ch

#2

Peace

Peace

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Caroline
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really like this illustration. Wish there were more doves in this crashing world.

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#3

How To Conquer Your Fears And Use Them To Your Advantage

How To Conquer Your Fears And Use Them To Your Advantage

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Laura
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Taking my misery, make it my b*tch, can't be everyone's favorite girl

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#4

Am I The Same Person In Different Situations?

Am I The Same Person In Different Situations?

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes you are. You are your brain's response to various situations.

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#5

And I‘m Sorry About The Moon. How Could I Know You‘d Disapprove?

And I‘m Sorry About The Moon. How Could I Know You‘d Disapprove?

Stephan Schmitz Report

#6

Our Relationship With Our Phones

Our Relationship With Our Phones

Stephan Schmitz Report

#7

Coping With Depression

Coping With Depression

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Help is out there, Keep talking to people, if the first meds do not work TELL the doctor that. If the first people don't help ask someone else. If they are talking jargon , ask them for clarifications. Yes there is a bottom, and there IS hope. Hold on.

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#9

The Crisis The Catholic Church Faces

The Crisis The Catholic Church Faces

Stephan Schmitz Report

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CharliAnn Olney
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some is changed but not a whole lot. Young men entering into a Seminary should get an intense psychological evaluation BEFORE they are even admitted to training!

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#12

Because Of A Strange Law Released In 1800 Women In Paris Officially Weren‘t Allowed To Wear Pants Up Until The Year 2013

Because Of A Strange Law Released In 1800 Women In Paris Officially Weren‘t Allowed To Wear Pants Up Until The Year 2013

Stephan Schmitz Report

#14

Unknown

Unknown

Stephan Schmitz Report

#15

Taking A Break

Taking A Break

Stephan Schmitz Report

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CharliAnn Olney
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Taking "me time" is so good for your sanity and brain! It is also good for the well-being of family.

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#18

At The End Of The Rainbow

At The End Of The Rainbow

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Water Bottle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Soooo what does this show? I got a few ideas. We’re destroying the earth? We kill what has been given to us? I don’t know, anyone got any other ideas?

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#21

There‘s Growing Reluctance In Some Countries And Cultures To Vaccinate

There‘s Growing Reluctance In Some Countries And Cultures To Vaccinate

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Elaine Dodge
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As soon as they have a polio/measles/rubella epidemic and millions of people die or are disfigured or crippled that growing reluctance will swiftly become a mandatory vaccination law - which it already should be!

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#23

Life Skills

Life Skills

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Rita Frost
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the sets I was given as a child there was never enough blue, or green, or whatever the main colour was. But same size pots of purple or orange or whatever you didn’t need much of. Which may be a sort of metaphor for don’t accept what you are given, mix your own.

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#24

Fall‘s Here

Fall‘s Here

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Elaine Dodge
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I absolutely loathe leaf blowers! That hideous high-pitched whine and air pollution! Use a damn rake you lazy sod! Rakes are quiet, environmentally friendly and you don't annoy every neighbour in a square mile or frighten the birds or other small animals, wake the babies mothers have just put down or fill the air with dust! People with dust allergies will thank you! Besides, using a rake is good cardio. Or better yet, enjoy the beauty of fall leaves.

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#28

How Scientists Are Looking Into Ways To Prevent Suicides

How Scientists Are Looking Into Ways To Prevent Suicides

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes it is complicated, yes treatments are improving. YES there is hope, if the first thing doesn't help tell that person, get the meds changed. And / or, try a different therapist. Yes every sufferer / survivor needs different treatments.

#31

How My Depression Ruined My Wedding

How My Depression Ruined My Wedding

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#33

How Opinions Are Made

How Opinions Are Made

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Smoofy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

See, I saw this as a positive thing, but everyone else (in the comments at least) seems to think this is negative. It looks like they're getting information from lots of different places so as to be able to form their own, whole opinion. Forming an opinion based solely on your own experience and never looking for or considering other ideas is ignorance, and I thought this was showing how multifaceted and complex and whole opinions should be

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#35

Diabetes

Diabetes

Stephan Schmitz Report

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John L
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This should be one for cancer. While I am not a conspiracy nut, I do believe that there will never be a cure for cancer as long as treating the sick is profitable...

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#36

Housing Affordability

Housing Affordability

Stephan Schmitz Report

#37

Trump

Trump

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Water Bottle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any doubt about this just look at his tweet after he assassinated Iran’s top general. A freaking American flag.

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#38

Graves Disease

Graves Disease

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Karin Gibson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Graves disease is over active thyroid caused by the body tissues acting against the organ. It is an auto-immune disease.

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#39

Confusing Court Case

Confusing Court Case

Stephan Schmitz Report

#40

The Au-Pair Girl Stole My Husband... And My Daughter

The Au-Pair Girl Stole My Husband... And My Daughter

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#41

The Phenomenon Of Women Being More Likely To Be Put In Leader Positions During Times Of Crisis

The Phenomenon Of Women Being More Likely To Be Put In Leader Positions During Times Of Crisis

Stephan Schmitz Report

#42

Possession

Possession

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Blue Shadow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The less things we own, the neater our lives can be. Plus, living simply is better for the environment.

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#45

Penguins

Penguins

Stephan Schmitz Report

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TheCakeIsAPie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one made me cry actually, really sad that thats what Earth will come to. And some people are saying its a big lie just to fill their already overflowing pockets.

#48

Life Skills

Life Skills

Stephan Schmitz Report

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M
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder which life skill will end up being the one puzzle piece that is inevitably missing?

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#49

Protection From Legal Storms

Protection From Legal Storms

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#53

Time Will Heal Your Wounds

Time Will Heal Your Wounds

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#55

Welcome To The New Year

Welcome To The New Year

Stephan Schmitz Report

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CharliAnn Olney
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a paramedic, I saw this WAY to often! Not to mention the devastation it causes for family and friends!

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#57

Unknown

Unknown

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M
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My god, that is a visual representation of me after my divorce! I love it!

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#60

Depression

Depression

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me depression feels like everything is made of concrete, my blankets, my bones. My thoughts ( slow as crawling through neck deep wet concrete ).

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#63

Adopting The Right Life Skills

Adopting The Right Life Skills

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#64

Streaming Services That Specialize In Certain Genres

Streaming Services That Specialize In Certain Genres

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#65

Overcoming The Fear Of Taking Risks

Overcoming The Fear Of Taking Risks

Stephan Schmitz Report

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M
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting that there is a fracture forming in the middle of the bridge.

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#67

Time Is Money

Time Is Money

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#68

Time Is Running Away

Time Is Running Away

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#69

Merkel

Merkel

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Water Bottle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Found this about her, perhaps she been draining Germany or the EU of their money? Angela Dorothea Merkel is a German politician serving as the chancellor of Germany since 2005. She served as the leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 2000 to 2018. Merkel has been widely described as the de facto leader of the European Union, the most powerful woman in the world, and "leader of the free world".

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#70

Alternative Ways Of Charging Batteries And Winning Electricity

Alternative Ways Of Charging Batteries And Winning Electricity

Stephan Schmitz Report

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John L
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm surprised that there aren't more alternatives like this. I was at the gym the other day, wondering why they don't hook the machines to the building. Wasted energy....

#73

The Future Of Vitual Reality

The Future Of Vitual Reality

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#75

Happy Occident

Happy Occident

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#76

Unknown

Unknown

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#77

Being Spontaneous vs. Planning

Being Spontaneous vs. Planning

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#78

The Catholic Church Under Pressure

The Catholic Church Under Pressure

Stephan Schmitz Report

#79

The Influence That Streaming Services Have On The Music Industry

The Influence That Streaming Services Have On The Music Industry

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#80

Diabetes

Diabetes

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Blue Shadow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The cracks in the ground are a good representation for how diabetes can affect your life and how difficult it can be.

#82

Unknown

Unknown

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#83

Farewell Gift

Farewell Gift

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#85

Unknown

Unknown

Stephan Schmitz Report

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#86

Pee Power

Pee Power

Stephan Schmitz Report

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Water Bottle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the weirdest but... maybe a good pee influences good ideas?

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