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78 More Brutally Honest Illustrations By Pawel Kuczynski Show What’s Wrong With Today’s Society
Observations of modern society, our habits and obsessions, are an important tool to have as we try to make sense of a rapidly changing world.
Sometimes we need to step back, slow down and look at ourselves with fresh eyes. Only then do the absurdities and flaws that we seem to have accepted as the norm become evident, and we can begin to question them.
Polish artist Pawel Kuczynski is an absolute master of this, combining powerful social commentary and satire with beautifully illustrated pieces, to make us sit back and reassess our priorities. “From the beginning I found that illustration was the best way to express my observations,” Pawel told Bored Panda. “I always say, that I'm an illustrator of a surrealistic time, so that is reflected in my work.”
Pawel began his career outside of his native Poland in order to focus on more global issues. “I wanted to be understandable for all peoples,” he told us. “I try not to speak directly about current problems. I try to find a wider view. Some times it's too wide! I receive many different kinds of opinion from people, that I'm old communist, liberal, fascist, conservative, anti-technological man, etc.”
In light of recent allegations surrounding Facebook and our data, the unjust wars that continue to rage around us, poverty, inequality and environmental degradation everywhere, these illustrations are highly relevant and deeply thought-provoking. What does Pawel think about the technology that we seem to be so in thrall to? “Facebook and other technological innovations are just the tools. It depends on us, for what kind of purposes we will use them.”
Scroll down below to check them out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!
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so if you stick your head out long enough and become a tree, someone will look after you?
We're paddling in the shallow pool of banality that is the internet, and ignoring an ocean of experience in the written word.
Sorry to interrupt, but I am really done with this "books are good - internet is bad" prejudice. I've seen some terribly wrong and dumb books and some brilliant and smart digital content. Contents matter. Form does not.
But with it being so easy to post content on the internet, there sure is an awful lot of dreck to wade through before you can find the good stuff on there!
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Where you get the information from does not matter, just so long as you get the information. Remember that at some point in our past the printed book was a "New fangled quirk" It amuses me to see negative posts about technology and internet on a social media platform on the internet. If the internet is so bad stay off it. Use only books and traditional methods of information gathering and sharing. If everyone who is against the internet stayed off it, it might not be as popular and could have died. If it still remains you will have at least freed up bandwidth for people who enjoy the Internet.
Books will one day be obsolete. Over half of Americans are semi-literate.
That's it. We spend hours on these little devices that give us close to nothing of what's really out there in the ocean of information.
Or how about the internet contains more than a static ocean that will not change much.
Perhaps the message is in the choice we make. For certain the internet allows us to go deep if we want but I think the image shows the use of a smart phone rather than a computer because we use our phones for immediate answers rather than more complex searches. The character is looking toward the book perhaps contemplating another option. Does he need the swim aides where he is or is he thinking of going deeper?
I think It's a positive idea and imagination creeating the sensation of actual experience
He's either unable, or too afraid to swim in the deep waters of literature.
Fantastic! However I perceive a saturation point. You are all so preoccupied with your online presence that you're suffering from overkill panic attack. Afraid that your teenager only connects with others through ye web? Create an environment were they can do their stuff together. Like the old time playing hal
The donkey is man and (s)he is being blinded by technology and can only see what's i front of them
Mmmmh... I welcome the potential downvotes, but I'll be the "black sheep" defending technology in this one. Pokemon Go was meant to get people out of their homes and go take a walk. Like Wii and Kinect, the concept is an effort to solve the problems of decreased physical activity caused by video games. I give it credit for that.
OH--I think he's literally giving himself a physical disability (inability to fly)through poor diet (obesity)
This one is pretty meaningful. I think it's abuse at work. Including entertainment business. Anyone that's valuable, creative, and kind. Is grounded to leave traces in this world with their wings. But those teaces are really boring patterns. For the sake of maintaining status quo, so the money of the bad boss can stay safe.
People who already have money are trying to push out the one's who don't. Like immigration in a way.
They’re saying that social media is a vast empire that’s ran by the best and humanity are the feeble slaves that build it and maintain it, in reality we’re just slaves to social media even if we’re the ones in control.
The politicians supporting the gun industry are as lethal as the ammunition
At one point she was at the top so its more of a cycle than whats depicted here. Those kids at the top will eventually spend their time on the bottom
Ha! Anything out of a politician's mouth will come true when pigs fly
dont judge a book by its cover. its just the tip of the iceberg there is much more beneath it.
In some parts of India, long ago, people used to believe the world was a bowl held up by four elephants on the back of a turtle. This must be a tribute to that.
It's the corrupted ones who get ahead and are protected while the good ones are the ones taken advantage of.
This is just like that beautiful speech from Obama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPJUBQd-PNM
Social media dominates all aspects of our lives, so much so there are even apps that monitor sleeping patterns etc. there is no escape
We’re surrounded by the luxuries of technology, holidays, leisure etc. and all of these are opportunities to connect with others but we still feel isolated
Pawel Kuczynski is an amazing artist with wonderful technique. His work is satirical, but much broader than just critiques of personal technology use as this post shows. This post unfairly narrows the scope of his work and, yes, presents the irony that viewers are seeing it on some electronic device., which seems hypocritical. Pawel Kuczynski is a painter...you know....canvas, paper, pencil, charcoal, paint. I think this post misrepresents his work.
These are all stupid and pessimistic pictures showing thinking from the 1800s. If this person hates the internet so much, why bother posting them.
I don't even think it's pessimistic! It's just a "holier than thou" arrogant way to display your "own" tastes and ways.
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The sentiment of most of these pictures strongly reminds me of the Black Mirror TV show... Powerful, yes, but not new today.
I didn't take it like that at all. We all use phones and technology, but these do NOT replace reading, books, independent thinking and walking, hiking... ya know, time off the phone. this indeed played into the massive spread of propaganda and a monopoly on many audiences to um... have the country and president we have now. The image of the refugees (people running for their lives with nowhere to go) not immigrants (people seeking to move to a new country for MANY reasons) Being stopped by RICH POWERFUL people... for no reason... Heartless even.
oops, did not finish my post. That image of the 98% rich, as in America, heartlessly stopping people running for their lives says it all, and losing yourself on phone, especially young minds getting "mowed down" when they pick up an look at reality which is REAL for sure, because you are experiencing it, not online about it.
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I've tried to read books on my computer or tablet. It's much more fun having unlimited time and being under a tree far from electricity. or curled up in a chair. Something away from direct light in your eyes.
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If it weren't for our phones or iPads, this artist's mediocre work would have never been seen.
What would be really great is if people didn't feel the need to explain each image in the comments beneath. There's several layers of irony in people posting on the internet, explaining images they saw on the internet, about how too much internet makes you stupid.
Kind of ironic we're all looking at our phones or iPads or computers to look at this though, right?
Yet more photos from a fantastic illustrator.....unfortunately with the myopic and naive world-view of a nine year-old.
I've seen a lot of them in the past already, neast to have them in one place. Very impactful drawings and being a Pole myself I see a bit more in them than other people.
amazing pictures that show a strong message!your an amazing artist and these pictures are stunning.
I liked how he pokes at everything except books. I personally have started to accumulate a library of my own just incase the power goes off. Philosophy, spiritual, history, how too’s, cooking and health.
"oh no we have technologically advanced enough to not be constantly reading books and having real life conversation, better go and draw some pictures about it and then upload them to a website where these morons can see them"
These are good tho most miss the point - about the loss of mind and thought and learning.
#2, 5, 7, 10 are excellent commentaries that provoke thought and are not related to the Internet but today's society. Powerful pictures that create dialogue without the pros and cons of our digital society.
It's just a shame. All you people taking the defensive: Check out #7, because THAT is why the system LOVES it when you worship your iphone to the point of ignoring everything that's natural. You CAN do both you know. Technology is NOT a love it or hate it thing. But if you love it so much you can't turn it off for a brief time with who you really are, then you are a SLAVE. I feel sorry for you.
Pawel Kuczynski is an amazing artist with wonderful technique. His work is satirical, but much broader than just critiques of personal technology use as this post shows. This post unfairly narrows the scope of his work and, yes, presents the irony that viewers are seeing it on some electronic device., which seems hypocritical. Pawel Kuczynski is a painter...you know....canvas, paper, pencil, charcoal, paint. I think this post misrepresents his work.
These are all stupid and pessimistic pictures showing thinking from the 1800s. If this person hates the internet so much, why bother posting them.
I don't even think it's pessimistic! It's just a "holier than thou" arrogant way to display your "own" tastes and ways.
Load More Replies... The sentiment of most of these pictures strongly reminds me of the Black Mirror TV show... Powerful, yes, but not new today.
I didn't take it like that at all. We all use phones and technology, but these do NOT replace reading, books, independent thinking and walking, hiking... ya know, time off the phone. this indeed played into the massive spread of propaganda and a monopoly on many audiences to um... have the country and president we have now. The image of the refugees (people running for their lives with nowhere to go) not immigrants (people seeking to move to a new country for MANY reasons) Being stopped by RICH POWERFUL people... for no reason... Heartless even.
oops, did not finish my post. That image of the 98% rich, as in America, heartlessly stopping people running for their lives says it all, and losing yourself on phone, especially young minds getting "mowed down" when they pick up an look at reality which is REAL for sure, because you are experiencing it, not online about it.
Load More Replies... I've tried to read books on my computer or tablet. It's much more fun having unlimited time and being under a tree far from electricity. or curled up in a chair. Something away from direct light in your eyes.
Load More Replies... If it weren't for our phones or iPads, this artist's mediocre work would have never been seen.
What would be really great is if people didn't feel the need to explain each image in the comments beneath. There's several layers of irony in people posting on the internet, explaining images they saw on the internet, about how too much internet makes you stupid.
Kind of ironic we're all looking at our phones or iPads or computers to look at this though, right?
Yet more photos from a fantastic illustrator.....unfortunately with the myopic and naive world-view of a nine year-old.
I've seen a lot of them in the past already, neast to have them in one place. Very impactful drawings and being a Pole myself I see a bit more in them than other people.
amazing pictures that show a strong message!your an amazing artist and these pictures are stunning.
I liked how he pokes at everything except books. I personally have started to accumulate a library of my own just incase the power goes off. Philosophy, spiritual, history, how too’s, cooking and health.
"oh no we have technologically advanced enough to not be constantly reading books and having real life conversation, better go and draw some pictures about it and then upload them to a website where these morons can see them"
These are good tho most miss the point - about the loss of mind and thought and learning.
#2, 5, 7, 10 are excellent commentaries that provoke thought and are not related to the Internet but today's society. Powerful pictures that create dialogue without the pros and cons of our digital society.
It's just a shame. All you people taking the defensive: Check out #7, because THAT is why the system LOVES it when you worship your iphone to the point of ignoring everything that's natural. You CAN do both you know. Technology is NOT a love it or hate it thing. But if you love it so much you can't turn it off for a brief time with who you really are, then you are a SLAVE. I feel sorry for you.
