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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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#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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#16

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

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

There is a Japanese film Battle Royale similar to Hunger Games - kids compete and kill each other on some island, this references that (probably plus some deeper meaning I'm failing to see...).

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

It looks more like a cover illustration to the book than a "Thought-Provoking Illustration".

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

To some kids, with the bullying, it is a battle royals, every single day. This is why it should not be tolerated ever.

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

Fortnite is a Battle Royal Game and you start in a Bus.Many Kids are playing it cause the grafic is kinda cute.

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

I think it’s refercing the over competiveness of schools and education, or even the cut throat battle for success.

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

For me, this picture reminds me of a situation that is happening in my country. They culled the system of financial help for students to study; instead of free financial support it has become a loan now. There is fear that this turns in a 'battle royal'. Where children with less money have to fight harder to achieve the same as children in a better financial situation. Thus a, not literal, fight for your right and survival ot he fittest amongst children. But I guess how you translate this picture depends on what happens in your country. Which makes is relevant for a lot of people all over the world; so powerfull art.

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

School buses are often torture chambers for many children here in the US. Drivers have little support, training, or authority to support bullied children.

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

I think its about antibullying and standing up for herself.

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

she killed them all, she has an axe in the bag and everyone is dead

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released kraken
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5 years ago

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UGH FORTNITE I F*****G HATE IT THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS IT'S SO TRUE!!! Everyone is so obsessed with it!

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

Just because you dont like it doesn’t mean you have to hate it. If you dont have anything nice to say, dont say anything at all. It’s actually a great game.

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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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