Art isn't created just to please our eyes; it also transfers ideas and provokes thought on social problems. Austrian cartoonist Gerhard Haderer has been producing satirical illustrations and cartoons for adults for decades now, highlighting the awful problems with society.
Gerhard Haderer had even faced the court for one of his brutally honest books, The Life of Jesus. It triggered violent reactions, because of the society problems discussed in it, in Europe, especially from the Catholic Church. The story culminated in 2005 when Haderer was convicted in Greece for insulting the religious community and was given a six-month suspended sentence in absentia. A few months later, however, this verdict was corrected on appeal, and Gerhard Haderer was acquitted.
The artist developed his realistic style when working as a graphic designer and illustrator for advertising agencies early in his career. It wasn't until a cancer operation in 1985 when Gerhard abandoned his commercial dreams and became a freelance caricaturist and satirical illustrator, mainly focusing on social issues. Scroll down to check out his unsettling and at times scary cartoons and vote for your favorites.
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this happens so much at live concerts, just put the damn phone down and enjoy the experience!
Do you see the box underneath? Aren't they paying for the contraption? This picture shows a line of average unhappy or angry men and women being transformed into smiling men and women through the process of purchasing (for 4 Euro, or approximately $5.00) a contraption that’s worn to fixate facial muscles. There is a smiley face label indicating that they are purchasing happiness. The device, which is a simple wire that is not worth $5.00, symbolizes a useless material item. The resultant happy face is an analogy for the brief happiness obtained from consumerism. The irony is that people are willing to pay a lot of money for something useless in the belief it will make them happy.
ВЫ НЕ ПРАВЫ, ВООБЩЕ-ТО ЭТО ОЧЕРЕДЬ НА РАБОТУ...))))) И ЭТО ПРАВДА, КА,КХЕФ И КА-ТЕТ...
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I highly recommend people look at the short animated films of Steve Cutts (http://www.stevecutts.com/animation.html). Many are similar in tone to these illustrations and they're absolutely wonderful. They speak to society and our need to be constantly tethered to our phones, etc.
Thank you for the Link Gayle ! Been trying to re-find that film for ages.
Load More Replies... Hello, my name is D**k Turner. I write because I am the inventor of the Smile Machine depicted in this painting. I invented it in 1991; here is an article from the Baltimore Sunpapers that proves it (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-02-07/features/1994038137_1_smile-machine-turner-smile-campaign) . Since I invented it, it has been constantly appropriated form me, first by the Norwegian Olympic Committee who used it as a promotion gimmick and then by countless others. I have no ill will against Mr Haderer but, as I am an artist myself and one who must struggle to survive, it is frustrating to see my work used uncredited. Thank you, D Turner sunpapers-...1f0e1d.jpg 
Or... maybe it's such a simple idea that the artist thought it up on his own without ever hearing of you or your 'invention'.
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Literally happening on our society..we smile while hiding the "Ugly Truth"
i just saw another post that said smiling when you don't feel like it can increase happiness. I think what is really wrong with society is that it fails to see these obvious contradictions. Everyone just wants to be the one with the answers.
Sometimes in some jobs you have to be happy all the time. It’s hard.
Putting on a smile when things are not ok will make you a liar to everyone, and you will only help yourself momentarilily. But if you are honest enough to express your feelings and don't fake a smile you might even get the help you need. Talking to someone who wants to listen brings more benefits than being liar.
Said no one ever, who has suffered chronic, clinical depression.
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Hello, my name is D**k Turner. I would like to bring to the attention of your readers that I am the inventor of the Smile Machine. I invented it in 1991 (here's an article from the Baltimore Sunpapers from 1992 that proves it: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-02-07/features/1994038137_1_smile-machine-turner-smile-campaign ). My idea has been constantly appropriated from me, first by the Norwegian Olympic Committee as a promotion gimmick and by countless others. As I am an artist, this is particularly frustrating for me to see. I have no ill will against Mr Haderer, but I do wish to have the credit for my invention. Anyone interested in more information is welcome to contact me at turnerdick@hotmail.com Thank you , D Turner
this is showing that the smiles, no matter what they originate from, are normally fake
This strikes a strange cord: This is exactly what people in this society have to go through. Because of the LIES as Truth, not adhering to any good, moral principles, and not being good, fair or equal to others - People walk through this society faking it; putting on fake smiles for most of the sick minded practices that goes on. You know what? The people get more sicker and sicker, because they're not able to be truthful with themselves or others about anything. It's in the medical journals of the mind. It's scary, actually.
Also, it sort of looked like a mini-human/alien/whatever forgot to close the door behind them (movie reference, Meet Dave)
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This I do not understand. I like reading books in paper but there is nothing wrong with electronic editions. If anything, they are more eco friendly. It is still the same activity just different medium.
Timeline: Catholic Church's sex abuse scandals https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/29/world/timeline-catholic-church-sexual-abuse-scandals/index.html
I'm not seeing this as a "fast food/obesity" thing, more like a CEO or corporate leader just greedily eating funds. Fat in wealth kind of thing
I immediately thought that the commando in the middle thinks in black and white, and reality is all sorts of colors.
George Orwell- Animal Farm: ''Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
Not sure how many people knew this, but there is a forth monkey in this series. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil and do no evil.
I'm honestly tired of people, artists or not, claiming there's something "wrong" with today's society and the way we interact with technology. I'm sorry but if you want your kids to be "addicted" to technology, DON'T buy them a phone when they're six years old, suck it up and try PARENTING instead of shunning your kids away with digital toys and electronics.
Every time I see these kinds of things this is all I can think of raunisex_t...fef027.jpg 
I always think of Caveman Science Fiction: http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
Load More Replies... Lol,complaining about society and technology in a digital way.I am sure that all those artist never use computers,smartphones and social media.They should stop being hypocritical and blame the "society"
I didn't think about it as someone complaining, I thought it was just a reminder for myself to double check where I stand in these pictures. I thought they were interesting to scroll through.
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I love the mind of people who can tackle entire issues in a single image.
ya'll don't get the term, "satire" do you? Here you go. SATIRE: the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. Illustrators can joke about the things they see using the their own medium. This illustrator does a funny job of poking at topical issues. Get a grip. If you enjoy your phone, keep enjoying it. Relax.
Honestly? STOP WITH THE SELFIE STICK! It’s so overdone, every satrical illustration has the selfie stick. And yes, I do watch tv, but I GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY TOO!
If you think it is all about watching tv then you totally missed the point.
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Such superb artwork - such grievously sad subjects. Thank you, Gerhard Haderer, for holding up the mirror.
Caricature is always about something worth criticising or at least about making a mockery of. Haderer is a great artist, I love all his work.
These are great satires & political art ideas! Despite what many on here are bitching about, these are fun.
I browsed through all of this looking for the voluptuous girl riding a giant crocodile, did I find the wrong article?
People SUCK! Knowing what's wrong, see it graphically illustrated is one thing. Realization and doing something about it is another. Denial is the factor in between.
It amazes me how some people find fault with everything. Do they think their negativity makes them superior by pretending to overlook someone else’s obvious talent? The “flat earth” mentality is an example of logic being tossed out and replacing it with ego driven nonsense.
Another series of illustrations about "what's wrong with today's society" that says all the same things as the previous artist. No new insights. Boring.
There is a balance. I see the zombie students walking around staring at their phones. I see the fear of original thinking. I see (as most can) the way people burble on about Harry Potter and its ilk like they have zero imagination. I guess it's easy to steal what is of little value.
In my time we had real community where people actually engaged culture, played and talked together. Oddly, now that I'm older I'm glad everyone is disconnected / dumbed-down because for those of us non-techno deebs, it's nice to have every space to myself....even when it's filled with "people"...
In my time we had real community where people actually engaged culture, played and talked together. Oddly, now that I'm older I'm glad everyone is disconnected / dumbed-down because for those of us non-techno deebs, it's nice to have every space to myself....even when it's filled with "people".
These are about loneliness and emptiness, not about technology per se. Our whole society has been set up to eliminate all kinds of real human interactions. Don't blame technology, blame societal morays of rugged individualism, personal shame, and mindless worship of money.
Not nice to see comments written without thinking, in the comments section of an article with pictures that are supposed to make you think...
This guy is so pretentious with his holier than thou attitude. Judging by the ratings on these images, it looks like the lot of Boredpanda's commenter demographic is an older generation of pseudo pretentious persons who are mad at younger people for existing. How dare the new generations continue to progress and leave you behind. I feel sorry for you guys who upvoted the selfie images because you will never be truly as pretentious as this artist. Ever. Even though you think you are lmao
Don't buy your children smartphones and don't let them watch TV. They are being manipulated! And you too, by the way.
People, there are options between saying nothing and going nuclear
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So you share his opinions that some things are wrong, yet you area allowed to write it very boringly but he can't draw them in humorous ways? Why?
Load More Replies... I'm honestly tired of people, artists or not, claiming there's something "wrong" with today's society and the way we interact with technology. I'm sorry but if you want your kids to be "addicted" to technology, DON'T buy them a phone when they're six years old, suck it up and try PARENTING instead of shunning your kids away with digital toys and electronics.
Every time I see these kinds of things this is all I can think of raunisex_t...fef027.jpg
I always think of Caveman Science Fiction: http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
Load More Replies... Lol,complaining about society and technology in a digital way.I am sure that all those artist never use computers,smartphones and social media.They should stop being hypocritical and blame the "society"
I didn't think about it as someone complaining, I thought it was just a reminder for myself to double check where I stand in these pictures. I thought they were interesting to scroll through.
Load More Replies... I love the mind of people who can tackle entire issues in a single image.
ya'll don't get the term, "satire" do you? Here you go. SATIRE: the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. Illustrators can joke about the things they see using the their own medium. This illustrator does a funny job of poking at topical issues. Get a grip. If you enjoy your phone, keep enjoying it. Relax.
Honestly? STOP WITH THE SELFIE STICK! It’s so overdone, every satrical illustration has the selfie stick. And yes, I do watch tv, but I GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY TOO!
If you think it is all about watching tv then you totally missed the point.
Load More Replies... Such superb artwork - such grievously sad subjects. Thank you, Gerhard Haderer, for holding up the mirror.
Caricature is always about something worth criticising or at least about making a mockery of. Haderer is a great artist, I love all his work.
These are great satires & political art ideas! Despite what many on here are bitching about, these are fun.
I browsed through all of this looking for the voluptuous girl riding a giant crocodile, did I find the wrong article?
People SUCK! Knowing what's wrong, see it graphically illustrated is one thing. Realization and doing something about it is another. Denial is the factor in between.
It amazes me how some people find fault with everything. Do they think their negativity makes them superior by pretending to overlook someone else’s obvious talent? The “flat earth” mentality is an example of logic being tossed out and replacing it with ego driven nonsense.
Another series of illustrations about "what's wrong with today's society" that says all the same things as the previous artist. No new insights. Boring.
There is a balance. I see the zombie students walking around staring at their phones. I see the fear of original thinking. I see (as most can) the way people burble on about Harry Potter and its ilk like they have zero imagination. I guess it's easy to steal what is of little value.
In my time we had real community where people actually engaged culture, played and talked together. Oddly, now that I'm older I'm glad everyone is disconnected / dumbed-down because for those of us non-techno deebs, it's nice to have every space to myself....even when it's filled with "people"...
In my time we had real community where people actually engaged culture, played and talked together. Oddly, now that I'm older I'm glad everyone is disconnected / dumbed-down because for those of us non-techno deebs, it's nice to have every space to myself....even when it's filled with "people".
These are about loneliness and emptiness, not about technology per se. Our whole society has been set up to eliminate all kinds of real human interactions. Don't blame technology, blame societal morays of rugged individualism, personal shame, and mindless worship of money.
Not nice to see comments written without thinking, in the comments section of an article with pictures that are supposed to make you think...
This guy is so pretentious with his holier than thou attitude. Judging by the ratings on these images, it looks like the lot of Boredpanda's commenter demographic is an older generation of pseudo pretentious persons who are mad at younger people for existing. How dare the new generations continue to progress and leave you behind. I feel sorry for you guys who upvoted the selfie images because you will never be truly as pretentious as this artist. Ever. Even though you think you are lmao
Don't buy your children smartphones and don't let them watch TV. They are being manipulated! And you too, by the way.
People, there are options between saying nothing and going nuclear
Load More Replies... So you share his opinions that some things are wrong, yet you area allowed to write it very boringly but he can't draw them in humorous ways? Why?
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