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I Illustrated 2 Extremes That Seem To Oppose Each Other, But In Reality They Need One Another To Form A Full Story (30 Pics)
Both Sides Thinking is a project of over 300+ illustrations, plus dozens of animated GIFs. The aim of the project is to blend philosophy with minimal design, to visualize abstract concepts and ideas through plain black and white visual representations.
Social media has divided people with strong opinions further away from each other. Constant battling between who's right, and falsifying the other. In this series, only black and white are being used. While the 2 extremes seem to oppose each other, in reality, they work as the Yin and the Yang; both sides need each other to form an image, a full story.
More info: bothsidesthinking.com | Instagram | studiobothsides.com
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I was born and raised in The Netherlands, graduated from Willem de Kooning Academy, Communication and Multimedia Design(Hons), now working as a freelance designer for brands and agencies from Shanghai and Tokyo.
When I am not busy, I like to translate complex philosophies and ideas into simplistic visuals and invent new tools to understand life from different angles.
Falling Apart Or Falling Into Place
I came up with the idea to create these pictographics during my search for the meaning of life. Because it was first written in text form, I found it was only useful for me, so I decided to translate all these insights into visuals, so they can be shared with more people. While it was first showcased with texts, the words were taken out in the end because I realized that everyone has their own interpretations for each visual, and there is no need to force anybody to agree only on a single interpretation, this also explains a little bit about the concept of Both Sides Thinking.
Birthday Cake And Countdown Clock
Every birthday is just a day we celebrate to forget that we're one year closer to the end.
Someone literally said "Hymn uses his life to draw down these visuals, it was because of Hymn's search for meaning, he explored life in every possible way. He went to Kenya to do volunteer work, went to Australia and Japan to do organic farming, he tested his limits and finished several marathons and trailwalker, did a few pilgrimages, went to do meditations and vipassana, he went back to university to study philosophy, and had a life and death motorbike accident in Vietnam and so forth, he has always kept his notebook at his side, so that whatever pops up in his thoughts, so he could doodle them and then later re-work them into minimal visuals."
Future And Past
Expectation vs. Reality
These visuals are like thought triggers, they can be a starter for people to discuss deep and philosophical ideas or the life topics that we all will encounter sooner or later in life. Since there is no model answer, they are free for interpretation. Everyone will get a different message by looking at one of the pictures.
Wall Or Bridge
To my mind the person on the left is about to learn a lesson about gravity.
In short, I am trying to create "Tools for Life Design". During my search for life's meaning, I found that there are no tools out there for me to understand life in an efficient way, I wished there were. Finally, I realized why not create them, so I am looking forward to creating more tools that can inspire people about life and see it from a broader perspective. Welcoming everyone to join this project if interested. More info can be found here.
Love Or Possess
Work Together Or Against Each Other
Depends what their aim is? To move it up/down or just spin it on the spot
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How Are You And Who Are You
Complexity Or Simplicity
Search Inwards And Express Outwards
Comfort Zone Or Adventure
As an introvert, I prefer my comfort zone to any sort of adventure 😄
Attach Or Detach
Passion And Motivation
Parenthood And Childhood
Ancestors And Descendants
I had trees planted in honor of my parents when they passed. Hopefully they will be around for future generations to enjoy.
Begin And End
A Möbius strip!! You have to go around twice to get to the end. It looks easier than it is
Stories And Human
Yolo And Fomo
Degenerate And Flourish
Hot Date vs. Cold Date
For some reason I saw this as a game of poker over wine. I was like, is the hot part strip poker?
Pursuit And Void
I think every worker feels the pain of chasing financial freedom that seems just out of reach while making someone else financially free.
Caged And Free
Work Together Or Against Each Other
Or maybe they're nets, not oars, and working together gets them more fish? (I thought they were nets at first glance.)
Identity And Self
Victim Mindset Or Player Mindset
Existentialism Or Nihilism
Money And Paper
When paper specifically for bathroom usage became a thing, many people used it as stationary and continued to use the Sears catalog in the bathroom. People thought toilet paper was too nice for its intended purpose.
Real And Fake
Peace Or Regret
If that’s death, I want my money back. I’m going home to galaxy no.376. Earth sucks.
Positive Or Negative
But why the fish hook? To indicate that you never know what you'll find on a metaphorical fishing expedition, like 'digging for dirt' on someone? Or what? (I'm not being facetious. With only black and white and no words, every bit is important, and I'm not getting the meaning.)
Process And Goal
