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Rafael Alvarez is a Spanish illustrator whose works portray painfully familiar scenarios. Except the artist creates his illustrations in a way that highlights a completely different angle. An angle that is usually quite shocking.

The ability to shock seems to be a vital component of the artist's illustrations - even required to challenge the minds of content readers whose attention span gets only smaller with each passing day. According to the artist, although it's difficult, it's important to tell the difference between sensationalism and truth or else we run a risk of losing our critical thinking and ability to care about anything at all.

So scroll down and see for yourself!

More info: alvarezrafa.com

#4

The Texting Trap

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Blakkur Sverrir
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually selling this kind of "mobile phone holder" would probably lower the number af accidents

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#5

In Weiter Ferne, So Nah

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Giovanni
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5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I Know that this probably has a profound meaning, but the only thing that it says to me is: she had a wild party but mom called over skype before she could fix the mess, nothing negative.

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Mo
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it's about the way we portray ourselves online, how we only let people see what we want them to see.

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ChiSoul10
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We show the world what we want to, doesnt mean its our truth or our actual reality. You see only what she shows you

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My Alter Ego
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a powerful image - the girl at the PC portrays herself as an innocent young childlike naïve, complete with teddy bear in the background (symbolic of feigned childhood?) while the reality of her sordid life lurks in the shadows ... Social media lets us show the world what we want it to see, to reveal of ourselves that which we want to reveal, or even to create a total fantasy that has no bearing whatsoever on reality ...

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Jessica A
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holy moly! Now I know what's hiding behind all of those perfect Instagram posts!!

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Amy Burke
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What I see is the online dating scene... falling in love with multiple people for what they pretend to be... meeting and then discarding them to move on to the next because they don't suit you or you are simply thrilled with the thrill of the hunt/kill.

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FunOldGuy
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So lost in the virtual world she is unaware of the horror around her.

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Jennifer Erdossy
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like how many different ways there are to interpret this one, that all have the same root: We show the world what we choose to show, but it may or may not be based in reality.

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Last Hurrah
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From an article that talked about Skype´s anniversary and its impact on relationships.

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Jeannie Carle
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's keeping her demons at bay by enjoying positive things on her laptop. I know this feeling.

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Gloria Simpson
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what happens when you party all night - without your Either she had a party without her boyfriend - or the background was her nightmare without the internet!

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Greta Toločkaitė
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

looks like few persons didn't quite make it through her wild party..

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Miklós Nagy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Yes honey, I wouldn't make a drug filled orgy while you are at a business trip!"

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TheBlackPanda
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The wild, drunk, passed-out people in the room make me really uncomfortable. You'd never catch me dead in a room like that. They look miserable. If you can't have fun without getting drunk then what are you even doing? If you can't do it with a clear mind then maybe you shouldn't be doing it at all.

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#6

The Right Wrench

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Kimberly Weixel
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5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like the federal reserve eating away at retirement savings by printing more money & causing inflation.

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#8

The Threat Of The In-Cels

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Miklós Nagy
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, that geek is actually a sexual predator who is looking at his new victim?

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#9

Artist Makes Illustrations That Will Hardly Ever Come Out Of Your Mind

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Jasmine PT
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn when I looked at the phone though. This shows people marry for the wrong reasons and are not ready to get married. She can't even realistically love her new husband. Eventually the VR glasses will have to come off.

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#10

Artist Makes Illustrations That Will Hardly Ever Come Out Of Your Mind

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Night Owl
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Video game monsters coming to life and looks like the son lost. The rest of the family looks so happy they beat him in the game they don't even mind the monsters are getting him. Well, video games do try to be immersive

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#12

Artist Makes Illustrations That Will Hardly Ever Come Out Of Your Mind

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Phoebe Bean
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So depressing these illustrations. I'll go and see the cute foxes pictures by the Finnish photographer.

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#13

Artist Makes Illustrations That Will Hardly Ever Come Out Of Your Mind

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Kenny Kulbiski
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really like this one but if it has a message other than romance is nice I'm missing it.

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#14

Artist Makes Illustrations That Will Hardly Ever Come Out Of Your Mind

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Dorothy Parker
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The freedom of the press is grave danger. The pOTUS bans certain reporters because they challenge him. If you can't stand up the press, how can you stand up to the rest of us? People are being told don't believe the press, fake news. There has always been propaganda and lies (remember the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?) However, we have stood up to it. Now the press is being silenced. Welcome to the Gulag.

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#15

In Weiter Ferne, So Nah

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Anna Lourie
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the same pic, two times? and a german text above? I don't think this one is from the spanish illustrator, especially because they look alike but have different styles.

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#17

Artist Makes Illustrations That Will Hardly Ever Come Out Of Your Mind

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Baron Simone Von Bianco
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only meaning I get is that the "painter" (very unskilled) just used an "artistic" pretest to see the girl naked, like the ancient excuse "I'm a producer and I'm going to make you a star". After some time she'll ask him "how it's going?" and he, with a long string of drool next to the side of his mouth..."hmmm ? ah yes! fine, very fine". Just a simple pervert, no hidden powerful message hidden anywhere.

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#18

Artist Makes Illustrations That Will Hardly Ever Come Out Of Your Mind

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Vanessa Galvan
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is very few people are real anymore or very few people see things as they truly are.

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#21

Artist Makes Illustrations That Will Hardly Ever Come Out Of Your Mind

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Vanessa Galvan
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We've strayed from the true spirit of Christmas for the sake of material things.

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#22

Honing Your Job

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SunflowersAreGold
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The decisions and mental health of past generations can have an impact on the future.

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#25

"Circuit Builders"

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Last Hurrah
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another illustration for the short story "Circuit Builders" by Don Peteroy, published in Playboy Magazine.

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#26

Artist Makes Illustrations That Will Hardly Ever Come Out Of Your Mind

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Sonder Along
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Victims are everywhere and the other half of the population is only now starting to wake up to that. (Hint: Look at the two women. They both look worried. The men have their backs turned and seem oblivious except for the one reading the paper.)

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