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Just like Neo from The Matrix, we sometimes get a strange feeling deep in our guts that something is not quite right with the world. German artist Steffen Kraft, who also goes by the name Iconeo online, makes amazing social commentary pictures that highlight how ironic, weird and even hypocritical life can sometimes be.
Here are what we believe to be the most visually appealing pieces of Kraft’s unique artwork. So scroll down, upvote the ones you like, and share your thoughts in the comments. And make sure to read Bored Panda’s in-depth interview with the artist down below. After you’re done admiring these meaningful drawings, check out Kraft’s previous post on Bored Panda.
More info: Iconeo.de | Facebook | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
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Bored Panda reached out to Iconeo to learn more about him, the way he creates his meaningful art, and the philosophy that hides behind each thought-provoking picture. When asked about the main inspiration for his art, Kraft replied that he find creative ideas in both small and large things.
“On the one hand, I'm inspired by little things, like my pencil, a cup of coffee or toilet paper. These little objects are icons. Everybody knows them. We don't have to think about their function when we see them. It's good brain training trying to place these things in a different situation. Sometimes, the results are meaningful, sometimes not.”
“On the other hand, I'm inspired by bigger things, like climate change, plastic pollution or social behavior. I try to make these complex themes simple and surprising,” the artist revealed to Bored Panda.
#9
anonymous person 6 years ago (edited)
Climate change is happening, people!!!!!! If we don’t act now to at least greatly reduce the rate at which it’s happening, our future children won’t have a hospitable planet to call home!!
Kraft believes that in our daily routine, we are “overwhelmed with images and impressions”, which is why we lose the ability to “self-reflect and to see the world from a different point of view.”
#10
“Of course, I also produce images, but it's the kind of communication most people understand quickly,” he admitted. “My goal is to surprise the viewer with simple drawing ideas that they may not have thought about and which make them think, and make them discuss them with others.”
#13
Sherri Steinert-Brown 6 years ago
This is so on track with what you see . I live in a small town in Montana but travel to Seattle WA every EASTER for cosplay convention . while I was there people and I am talking about the majority of people were walking around just like this illustration they didn't even look up when they were crossing the crosswalk in front of traffic. I guess they assume all drivers follow the rules.plus I am originally from the south and so I say hi to everyone not one person looked up or said hi back wait one person did but they looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language . This is who we now are in this world and it worries me when I think of my grandkids being taught or just shown that this is correct it is not. Our first language is talking to one another lets keep this new generation on the right path .
#14
Kaisu 6 years ago
I wish there was an easy way for lonely people in the same area to meet up! However, a lot of people are too ashamed to admit that they're lonely
Daria B 6 years ago
Or such services would be turned into just "dating" apps.
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Sedef Özüpek 6 years ago
I wish there was an app or something where you can find people alike to be friends. and it's not filled with sex crazed people who only care about sex and sex
Sergio Bicerra Descalzi 6 years ago
If you feel lonely, call (no text) someone you like. If u feel u have nothing to say, ask them about their day, their lives, don't stop asking and eventually a monologue will turn into a conversation. Then repeat the next day. Make time, if possible, to hang out. Doesn't have to be something fancy, a walk in the park, city, etc will do. Choose a free activity like chasing for Geocaches. Good luck!
Sedef Özüpek 6 years ago
they don't pick up. they don't pick up. they don't reply. they are busy. they don't answer. thanks for the advice tho! maybe there are people who never had the idea to call their friends before and this can be useful for them
Load More Replies... 
Adrian Alexe 6 years ago (edited)
Yeah, but usually loneliness is the effect of not finding someone who fits your needs or desires. Hooking up or starting a relationship just for the sake of not being lonely, is an equally terrible idea.
Holosexual 6 years ago
This! I keep thinking about this. So many people say they're lonely. If only there was a way to bring them together.
#15
queen...<3 6 years ago (edited)
Just because you aren't vegan doesn't mean that you hate animals.
Iconeo got a degree in Communication Design in Germany and founded an advertising agency. He admitted to Bored Panda that at that point he was “far away from being an artist” and also didn’t want to be one.
#18
RacconLifeGirlie 6 years ago
me trying to find the right angle to watch netflix in the middle of the night
“I liked to work for clients and create ideas to sell products. It was an important time for me, but after 8 years, I left the agency. Since then, I explored the art part inside of me. And it's a funny journey, not a straight path. I still do graphic design, logo design, poster design for clients, but more the artsy way with my style, not the advertising way with trendy images.”
#19
Tiffany Marie 6 years ago
Who knows maybe that will be the rest of the world one day? Be like either Mad Max or Waterworld?
#20
Kraft had some advice for all the new, veteran, successful and struggling artists out there: “Being an artist means having good times and having bad times, especially in the beginning. Be patient when you are uninspired or when you feel misunderstood. You are on the right path, as long as you are engaged in doing what you find interesting. And don't forget to relax. I get the best ideas when I'm relaxed and out of my office.”
#24
Layla Cecil 6 years ago
The vast majority of plastic comes from just a few rivers in China and India. They don't have trash pickup there, so people just toss all of their garbage into these rivers, which then feed into the ocean. Short of helping those countries with their waste disposal, the oceans will continue to fill with plastic.
Finally, Kraft told Bored Panda about his future plans. “I want to do a book for children, but as with every new thing, this is hard in the beginning. And I'm trying to learn AR-stuff to explore new ways of showing my art.”
#25
Shika Louis 6 years ago
Even the turtles can't keep all the waste we leave... It's sad that turtles have to clean another species' mess
#30
M Dream 6 years ago
WARNING: Do not use plastic straws! Feel free to use plastic plates, pens, plastic anything else.. and of course products in plastic package. It's also ok to use products (of any material) that small children make in places outside your country. But please, do not use plastic straws or bags. Plastic life. One use only. Only for you.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
CbusResident 6 years ago
'Everyone over consumes!' Says every super-cliche '90s art school kid in their pictures. 'I'm going to show that consumerism has taken over!!' So original. Of course the person saying this always seems to do so through the internet, lives in a city, travels by plane if they can and sips organic coffee - in other words they consume a ton of resources too. Of course they do, it's pretty hard not to. They're never actually saying: 'B/c of over-consumption I'm now going to live off the grid and/or like an Amish person.' Well that's okay, I don't expect anyone else to live that way, but then you can't really complain when others consume things, can you?
Bob Beltcher 6 years ago (edited)
I can complain that businesses began using single serving packages heavily in the 90s instead of stay with reusable containers. Then they slap a recycling symbol on it to make every believe stuff actually gets recycled. Yet, over 25% of recyclables are put in landfills because of contamination. Recycling companies don't care because most of them are owned by landfill companies so they get paid either way. There is no set standard for recycling and what can be recycled, it varies based on the recycling plant. Most plastic items are also only recycled once before being put in a landfill anyways because it's cheaper to make something new than to reuse something.
Load More Replies...
Monika Soffronow 6 years ago
Yes, I agree, they are very well executed and they also provided a much more enjoyable and thought-provoking experience than I expected. I would like to see more of Steffen Kraft's work.
Load More Replies...
ivan bolitekurac 6 years ago
At least some artists recycle the old "whats wrong with out society" subject very good.No waste,all well used over and over again
CbusResident 6 years ago
Exactly! No one has done more to reuse and recycles ideas than this artist, and it also has reduced something in me too.
Load More Replies...
JD Higginson 6 years ago
The sad thing is time is already up. Even if we stopped it all right this second we could never stop what's about to happen in 100 yrs.
Inservio Letum 6 years ago
Really hate that everything gets prefiltered based on votes. F**k votes. If people want to see exclusively what others like, they can bloody well skip whatever doesn't meet their quotum of appeal in the eyes of total strangers. Censoring content to most appeal to the blinkered is utter malarky.
John L 6 years ago
A company called Loop, is trying to go back to the 50's to stop plastic use. They are partnering up with major manufacturers to package popular products into reusable metal containers. They will even come and pick them up for reuse. They are piloting in New York and another city. I will gladly sign up for this when if comes to my area. Sometimes going back to the past, does help.
Tim Bond 5 years ago
many people on the left dont know how to communicate that its the corruption within capitalism that they hate and not structure of capitalism itself. Thats why you have hipsters saying I hate capitalism.
Load More Replies...
Jake taylor 6 years ago
The biggest problem in our society number #23...ahahhahaaahah what a nonsense
miaow 6 years ago
This artwork is engulfing for the soul and mind to understand and reflect. It's Very very ovrwehlming. I wanted to see the 38 images more but it would keep me awake for another hour !! :/
Riteaidbob 6 years ago
You are an IDIOT if you believe all the climate change BS. What arrogance to think man is going to control the climate OF THE ENTIRE PLANET!!!!!!! It's a SCAM to control your pathetic lives.
Terd Fergison 6 years ago
What is your education level, riteaidbob? Have you studied climate change at a college level? Where do you get your sources from?
Load More Replies...
Wubble 6 years ago
I'm sorry, but it feels like this artist is just one of those Millenial edgelords.
Tim Bond 5 years ago
If a hipster said something that made perfect sense rationally... what stops you from enjoying it?
Load More Replies... Dorothy Parker 6 years ago
I think these are very well done and consistent in their message. I hope to see more. I do agree the last 8 were not as effective as the first 30.
Miklós Nagy 6 years ago
Nice! We only had the "social media is evil" cliché up till now but now we have the "plastic is bad" cliché too!
Daria B 6 years ago
I share your sentiment, but , objectively and scientifically, plastic really is bad. At least, the plastic as we know it. But, oh my, it's so convenient... Good thing is, they are working on solutions to produce a different kind of plastic that is supposed to be less harmful than traditional kinds of plastic.
Load More Replies...
CbusResident 6 years ago
'Everyone over consumes!' Says every super-cliche '90s art school kid in their pictures. 'I'm going to show that consumerism has taken over!!' So original. Of course the person saying this always seems to do so through the internet, lives in a city, travels by plane if they can and sips organic coffee - in other words they consume a ton of resources too. Of course they do, it's pretty hard not to. They're never actually saying: 'B/c of over-consumption I'm now going to live off the grid and/or like an Amish person.' Well that's okay, I don't expect anyone else to live that way, but then you can't really complain when others consume things, can you?
Bob Beltcher 6 years ago (edited)
I can complain that businesses began using single serving packages heavily in the 90s instead of stay with reusable containers. Then they slap a recycling symbol on it to make every believe stuff actually gets recycled. Yet, over 25% of recyclables are put in landfills because of contamination. Recycling companies don't care because most of them are owned by landfill companies so they get paid either way. There is no set standard for recycling and what can be recycled, it varies based on the recycling plant. Most plastic items are also only recycled once before being put in a landfill anyways because it's cheaper to make something new than to reuse something.
Load More Replies... Monika Soffronow 6 years ago
Yes, I agree, they are very well executed and they also provided a much more enjoyable and thought-provoking experience than I expected. I would like to see more of Steffen Kraft's work.
Load More Replies... ivan bolitekurac 6 years ago
At least some artists recycle the old "whats wrong with out society" subject very good.No waste,all well used over and over again
CbusResident 6 years ago
Exactly! No one has done more to reuse and recycles ideas than this artist, and it also has reduced something in me too.
Load More Replies... JD Higginson 6 years ago
The sad thing is time is already up. Even if we stopped it all right this second we could never stop what's about to happen in 100 yrs.
Inservio Letum 6 years ago
Really hate that everything gets prefiltered based on votes. F**k votes. If people want to see exclusively what others like, they can bloody well skip whatever doesn't meet their quotum of appeal in the eyes of total strangers. Censoring content to most appeal to the blinkered is utter malarky.
John L 6 years ago
A company called Loop, is trying to go back to the 50's to stop plastic use. They are partnering up with major manufacturers to package popular products into reusable metal containers. They will even come and pick them up for reuse. They are piloting in New York and another city. I will gladly sign up for this when if comes to my area. Sometimes going back to the past, does help.
Tim Bond 5 years ago
many people on the left dont know how to communicate that its the corruption within capitalism that they hate and not structure of capitalism itself. Thats why you have hipsters saying I hate capitalism.
Load More Replies... Jake taylor 6 years ago
The biggest problem in our society number #23...ahahhahaaahah what a nonsense
miaow 6 years ago
This artwork is engulfing for the soul and mind to understand and reflect. It's Very very ovrwehlming. I wanted to see the 38 images more but it would keep me awake for another hour !! :/
Riteaidbob 6 years ago
You are an IDIOT if you believe all the climate change BS. What arrogance to think man is going to control the climate OF THE ENTIRE PLANET!!!!!!! It's a SCAM to control your pathetic lives.
Terd Fergison 6 years ago
What is your education level, riteaidbob? Have you studied climate change at a college level? Where do you get your sources from?
Load More Replies... Wubble 6 years ago
I'm sorry, but it feels like this artist is just one of those Millenial edgelords.
Tim Bond 5 years ago
If a hipster said something that made perfect sense rationally... what stops you from enjoying it?
Load More Replies... Dorothy Parker 6 years ago
I think these are very well done and consistent in their message. I hope to see more. I do agree the last 8 were not as effective as the first 30.
Miklós Nagy 6 years ago
Nice! We only had the "social media is evil" cliché up till now but now we have the "plastic is bad" cliché too!
Daria B 6 years ago
I share your sentiment, but , objectively and scientifically, plastic really is bad. At least, the plastic as we know it. But, oh my, it's so convenient... Good thing is, they are working on solutions to produce a different kind of plastic that is supposed to be less harmful than traditional kinds of plastic.
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