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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 

#1

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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.

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    “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.”

    #4

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    varwenea
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dumber meets dumber. Add Boris and there'll be a battle for the tweedle-dumbest title.

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    #5

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    Kaisu
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is essentially how soldiers are manipulated to give their lives for their country

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    #6

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    “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.

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    varwenea
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Luckily, Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Rosa Park, and many others didn't think so. Just need many more to think differently and take action.

    Marnie
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some things can ONLY be changed if the majority does it, not one person.

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    Miss Cris
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What about the dog thougts and feelings?

    Quant
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Poop, eat, sleep... Ooh toy!... I love that toy...! Poop, eat, sleep...."

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    Mia Cardenas
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People's quotes: "Somebody do something", "somebody help" YOU ARE SOMEONE!

    Bob Beltcher
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sadly, individuals can not make changes that will have a significant impact alone. Businesses far out weigh anything we do.

    Mia Cardenas
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not true. The abolition of slavery, the women's right to vote...just to name a few, happened because ONE individual did something

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    Steven Cook
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Patience is required... Everyone know a small change in the past can really affect the future...

    TheExtremeSmell
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They’re all having different ideas on how and why to change the world is the problem

    miaow
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I know that kind of thought though.. "I'm just one me" and "how can I make a world of a change?" later when I saved a tiny kitten from hunger and homelessness.. It did feel like that small change meant a huge difference, like it meant the world of a difference. And, when I also save small spiders or ants life I feel like it must be really hard to be an ant or spider, I couldn't do a good job being an insect as they do so well (though sometimes, I do think I can be a good honeybee). The point is that making a small effort for a positive change does count, there are so many ants in the world but that one ant saved might have just been me (idk where this scenario is going, it's 10 PM and I'm really talkative rn ) o_O

    DancingToMyself
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's "Think globally, act locally" type of thing. Kiss for the kitty. :)

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    david fretz
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Disagree! Just YOU, individually to do little things you can do!! YOU - take action NOW!!

    Dosunmu Ibrahim
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The world is still f****d. They didn't do it alone. They had lots and lots of help. The problem in my opinion is people trying to change the world.

    kuikkaP
    Community Member
    6 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You, just you - change one plastic item into a non-plastic alternative per month, or stop using it altogether. That is 12 plastic items less in the next year's time. Then multiply that with the population of your town, your state or county, your country... Believe me, manufacturers and business people WILL listen when millions of people suddenly stop buying XX and pick up the competitor, instead! And that is STILL just you making the change :) Each time you manage to drop an unnecessary plastic something, tell others or take a picture and share it with #1plasticless.

    Nele Buysmans
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Join world clean up day on sept 21st and do your part to change this!

    TRUE HAPPINESS
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    because we need together. UNITED U stands for YOU N stand for AND and I... You and I

    Monday
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be fair...most of us can't. Very few people can actually change the world on their own, but you won't know whether or not you're one of them unless you try.

    Monika Soffronow
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "It is like spitting in the ocean." OK ... but if everyone would spit in the ocean on the same day, then I for sure would not go swimming!

    JayJayKay
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We all play part in killing this planet. We all can make small changes and it will have a huge impact - because if multiply one small act by millions.... Buy less stuff, eat less meat and dairy (burning amazon anyone?), avoid plastic, simply be a more responsible person. It's not that hard :)

    Gerry Higgins
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tell that to Gandhi or Martin Luther... or Martin Luther King Jr. or Winston Churchill.... or Hitler even. Change is not always good.

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    #9

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    anonymous person
    Community Member
    6 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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!!

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    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.”

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    varwenea
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Plastic bags, choking the sea life to death, forever changing our ecosystem as we know it, is far scarier than a mere shark.

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    “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.”

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    Sherri Steinert-Brown
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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 .

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    #14

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    Kaisu
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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

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    queen...<3
    Community Member
    6 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just because you aren't vegan doesn't mean that you hate animals.

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    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.

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    Kaisu
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's really sad how some people base their self worth on how many likes they receive

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    #18

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    RacconLifeGirlie
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    me trying to find the right angle to watch netflix in the middle of the night

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    “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.”

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    anonymous person
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So sad but accurate. Humans are such destructive creatures.

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    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.”

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    #23

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    Kaisu
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't assume you know how someone else feels until you ask. However, also don't kiss someone unless you have their consent

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    #24

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    Layla Cecil
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    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.”

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    Shika Louis
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Even the turtles can't keep all the waste we leave... It's sad that turtles have to clean another species' mess

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    #26

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    #30

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    M Dream
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    #31

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    Fish Boden
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I mean, just horrible. But beautifully done!

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    #33

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    #38

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    Night Owl
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    another meaning for "coffee shots" or for "espresso shots"

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