30 Thought-Provoking Digital Illustrations That Expose The Flaws Of Our Modern Society
Art has recently grown into a relatively strong medium to convey critique. Whether it's of the way we live our lives, the way “things are done” in our society, or the way we abuse the planet (or abuse each other).
In a world where a single powerful image can tell a thousand words—how information is much more consumed via imagery rather than language—art turns out to be an effective way to understand the scope of social issues and to call for change.
This is the trajectory that artist and illustrator Davide Bonazzi has also chosen. He creates dark drawings that critique today's world and society. Bored Panda has also got in touch with Bonazzi to elaborate on his powerful artworks. There is more artwork to be seen in a previous Bored Panda article here as well as on Bonazzi's Website.
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This is men getting taking the escalator to success and women having to climb their way to the same position.
Although his education was mostly based on literature and liberal-arts, Davide has always had a huge interest in visual arts as well. "After university, I spent a year at the European Institute of Design in Milan, then two more years at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna," he told Bored Panda. "I've come to know what illustration is exactly through practice. I've had a few great teachers who really inspired me."
The artist describes his thought-provoking illustrations as "straightforward, conceptual, surreal and sometimes ironic." Davide said he likes using visual metaphors to create "twists" in his creative ideas. This helps him turn an apparently plain scene into something unexpected and more meaningful. Even if it's just a small detail.
"I've always been an optimistic person, though the more I learn about the world we live in, the more I feel worried about our future," Davide added. "Especially, the ecological crisis. It seems we're at the start of a global challenge with an uncertain outcome, and we all have to do our part. In the past decades, people had been taught to be selfish, to consume. I think it's crucial to eradicate this social problem."
This is a problem I have trouble being sympathetic with. You don't need to spend big $$$ to have a wedding like some girl on TV to have a good marriage.
A single parent can be very successful raising their children. My daughter turned out awesome. But, I really felt the absence of a partner. Someone who would have my back and back me up. It really is easier when there a two people raising a child. Thankfully, my ex-in-laws were wonderful
I think instead of your idea, it is just a reminder that we could have chosen peace.
Load More Replies..."Bombing for Peace is like Screwing for Virginity" - George Carlin
Load More Replies...This means that because of nuclear capabilities peace has been possible. Since the atomic bomb our world has not experienced a world war and for the most part, conflicts around the world is mainly isolated to proxy wars or cold wars not a global war. Countries now think twice before invading another, because of nuclear recourse. This image could be a test bomb, and not necessarily a bomb inflicted on another country.
This is powerful! To me it is saying that there is hope even in the worst of times.
For more realism, the humans in the foreground should be blowing away to ash...
Incinerated into permanent shadows on the ground.
Load More Replies...Or does this mean that this is the way we think we'll resolve matters to gain peace?
Or the meaning could be the thought of peace is over and in the clouded when that first bomb drops
Nuclear bombs they say? I see a happy bird in a very nice tree on an island :)
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land amongst the stars"
Unrelated to the picture but lots of people are under the impression that anyone that lives in the Middle East is a terrorist.
We are fanatically devoted to our phones / internet
Hash tags making ignored things visible across the net and empowering people to help each other through knowledge of the problems.
That´s reality TV for you. Everything is staged and analyzed by psychologists to provoke the drama wanted by the producer.
I will say it was the easiest and fastest way to let people know about my father's passing.
Smart phones are distracting this generation from seeing the world around them, unlike previous generations
I think it's unsustainable growth. The employees in the company are doing their best to prop that growth up, but eventually it's going to grow too big to sustain and swallow them in.
Are the rungs being inserted or, as for a lot of us theses days, being removed
I can relate to this one. A calendar that's too full of meetings and appointments.
Note: this post originally had 50 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Very nice collection. Poignant and I like the style - reminiscent of vintage adverts.
I love these illustrations. I just hope that the artist will look at the lowest scoring drawings. Surely they are not really getting the message across - At least I didn´t get them. Maybe too cryptic or too clever. That´s not a bad thing unless you want to say something about society that people can react to or think about. In that case there are a few misses. But that does not ruin the overall impression of this great work posted. Thank you for showing your art <3
Don't know how many of them I agree with it or really understand, but love the artwork and style :)
Don't know how many of them I agree with it really understand, but love the artwork and style :)
go to r/im14andthisisdeep...it is full of this drawings,you will love it
Agreed. I get the point and agree with most of the messages but these have been done to death and I can't see that they've accomplished anything except maybe to inflate the artists ego
Load More Replies...Very nice collection. Poignant and I like the style - reminiscent of vintage adverts.
I love these illustrations. I just hope that the artist will look at the lowest scoring drawings. Surely they are not really getting the message across - At least I didn´t get them. Maybe too cryptic or too clever. That´s not a bad thing unless you want to say something about society that people can react to or think about. In that case there are a few misses. But that does not ruin the overall impression of this great work posted. Thank you for showing your art <3
Don't know how many of them I agree with it or really understand, but love the artwork and style :)
Don't know how many of them I agree with it really understand, but love the artwork and style :)
go to r/im14andthisisdeep...it is full of this drawings,you will love it
Agreed. I get the point and agree with most of the messages but these have been done to death and I can't see that they've accomplished anything except maybe to inflate the artists ego
Load More Replies...