Today, I'd be posting hard facts and reality about technology from the point of view of Polish artist Pawel Kuczynski and Austrian artist Gerhard Haderer
Since we were babies, we've been told that the world "just is" a certain way. As we get older, we start to ask ourselves that even though the world "is" like how we were told, should it be? Polish artist Pawel Kuczynski and Austrian artist Gerhard Haderer have been using their talents to answer that question through their satirical observations of humankind’s habits and obsessions in ways that are not only thought-provoking but are also a reminder that we must do better. Take a look at these unbelievably powerful illustrations and ask yourself if you agree or disagree with what the artists are trying to convey. Either way, you will not be able to stop thinking about them for the rest of the day

1. Confess Your Sins In Secret, And Facebook Will Broadcast It To The World.

Amongst his many statements, there is one particular criticism that is recurrent in Kuczynski’s drawing, and that is the power of Facebook in our modern world. The artist continues to poke at the popular social media platform since the beginning of his work and it only seems to get harsher.
Confess Your Sins In Secret, And Facebook Will Broadcast It To The World
Pawel Kuczynski
In this illustration, he features what seems to be a man in an unusual confessionary, which is characterized by a new “religion,” Facebook.

I RUGA here dey wait.

2. ​Instead Of Helping Those In Need, Let’s Snap A Picture First.

This one hits pretty hard. While having access to phones and cameras has certainly come with many benefits, it has also come with what seems to be our downfall.
​Instead Of Helping Those In Need, Let’s Snap A Picture First
Pawel Kuczynski
It is too common to see a person who needs help, but instead of offering it, viewers decide to record or snap a shot of it first.

3. With Technology Taking Over, Will Books Become The New Treasures Of The World?

This is one of those illustrations that could have several interpretations depending on who's looking at it.
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With Technology Taking Over, Will Books Become The New Treasures Of The World?
Pawel Kuczynski
But by the looks of it, it seems like Kuczynski is pointing towards the fact that one day (not too long from now), books will become the real treasures of the world. With television, computers, social media, and screens taking over, books are becoming rarer and rarer.

4. When Did We Start Needing Screens For Everything, Including Saying A Prayer?

Ah, screens. One of the most controversial topics out there, and by the angle of this picture, we’re guessing that Kuczynski is not too impressed with where we’re headed. The sad illustration depicts a family supposedly saying a prayer while reading it from their individual screens.
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When Did We Start Needing Screens For Everything, Including Saying A Prayer?
Pawel Kuczynski
It reminds us that the dependence on screens affects many aspects of society, including the ability to say a prayer without reading it from a tablet.

5. Don't Stand Out From The Crowd Or You Will Be Mowed Down

There is an old Japanese saying that notes: "The nail that sticks up gets hammered down." The saying couldn’t apply more to this illustration. The artist could be referring to the fact that we need to keep up with technology, and if we don’t, we’ll be mowed down.
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Don't Stand Out From The Crowd Or You Will Be Mowed Down
Pawel Kuczynski
Or, it could mean that if one stands out too much from others, they too, will be mowed down.

6. Read The Facts For Yourself Instead Of Only Listening To "The Man"

In this illustration, Kuczynski seems to be clearly sharing his stance on Brexit, with the drawing of a man in power reading to the little kids who all conform to his sayings, with the exception of one.
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Read The Facts For Yourself Instead Of Only Listening To "The Man"
Pawel Kuczynski
The colors resemble the European Union Flag and show a little child choosing to read for him/herself instead of interpreting the facts according to what “the man” reads.

Parked

7. The Sad Reality Of Inequality Growing Exponentially

This one is a really powerful one and a tough reminder of the inequalities that make our world. While some people have everything, or at least, they never have to worry about their next meal, others are not so lucky.
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The Sad Reality Of Inequality Growing Exponentially
Pawel Kuczynski
Too many people in this world are hungry and have little to no access to food for themselves or their families.

lol.


technology is ruling.

8. While Some Climb A Mountain Of Knowledge, Others Choose Lethargy

At this point, it’s not hard to understand that Kuczynski sees books as the jewels of knowledge, but this particular illustration was seen as a bit harsh for many.
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While Some Climb A Mountain Of Knowledge, Others Choose Lethargy
Pawel Kuczynski
Again, while this is subject to one’s own interpretation, the artist seems to be encouraging humans to climb the mountain of knowledge, while sort of equating disability to those who choose not to, or worse.

9. ​Stuck In Banal Screens While Ignoring The Beauty Of The World

Kuczynski doesn't seem to waste an opportunity to criticize technology and our dependence on it. Perhaps his criticism is not so much the fact that we use it, but the fact that it has completely sucked us into the shallow pool of banality that characterizes the internet.
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​Stuck In Banal Screens While Ignoring The Beauty Of The World
Pawel Kuczynski
And while we’re in there, we miss and completely ignore the beauty of the ocean and the world out there.

10. Where All Of Our Trash Politicians Should Be Placed - In A Garbage Landfill

Kuczynski has a way of making really sad things into something so satirical that for a second, we feel the urge to laugh while boiling anger inside. In this illustration, the artist attests to the continuous political garbage that we face every day from politicians from all over the world.
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Where All Of Our Trash Politicians Should Be Placed - In A Garbage Landfill
Pawel Kuczynski
He kindly reminds us where all of them belong though, in the trash.

11. Just Like This Donkey, We Are All Blinded By Screens

In this one, it looks like the cellphone or the screens have substituted the donkey's eyes, and are everything that the donkey can use to perceive the world. We are guessing that the artist is referring to us, humans, as the donkey, completely blinded by technology from all sides.
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Just Like This Donkey, We Are All Blinded By Screens
Pawel Kuczynski
This makes it impossible for us to look forward, or anywhere for that matter

13. Pokemon Go Has Taken Over The World
Mmmmh, Pokemon Go fans will probably cringe a little bit when they see this one, but hey, there is always an opportunity for a peaceful and constructive discussion.
Pokemon Go Has Taken Over The World
Pawel Kuczynski
Even though the game came out with the intent of taking people out of their homes, in the first 148 days of its launch, the game may have contributed to almost 150,000 traffic accidents and some 250 deaths.

14. Can You Keep A Secret Or Will You Tweet It?
With technology and how rapidly news stories are able to travel these days, almost no secret is ever completely safe. At any given moment, that secret can be leaked to the world, and Twitter is certainly one of people's favorite platforms to do so.
Can You Keep A Secret Or Will You Tweet It?
Pawel Kuczynski
In this illustration, the artist makes a very clear reference to how the platform has been used to spread gossip instead of Information.

15. Slowly Killing Ourselves Through Our Detrimental Eating Habits.

We are going to attempt to interpret this one, though we're guessing that people will have many different views of it. One thing's for sure though, it is not an easy image to look at for so many reasons.
Slowly Killing Ourselves Through Our Detrimental Eating Habits
Pawel Kuczynski
One could interpret it as this man slowly killing himself and his wings through his food, by choosing detrimental eating habits that include harming and frying his own wings in order to indulge.

16. We Are All Completely Isolated As A Result Of Technology.
Here goes another one of Kuczynski's powerful criticisms towards how much each of us puts into technology, resulting in most of us being alone.
We Are All Completely Isolated As A Result Of Technology
Pawel Kuczynski
When we immerse ourselves for hours in our phones, tablets, and laptops, what we really create are little lonely islands where the beauty of the outside world is invisible, and spending time with those we love has become rare.

17. Screens Circle Around Us Like Sharks, Even When We Rebel Against Them
Nowadays, reading a book or doing something other than being on our screens seems to be a sort of rebellion more than anything else.
Screens Circle Around Us Like Sharks, Even When We Rebel Against Them
Pawel Kuczynski
To spark the debate even further though, many critics say that the artist may place too much importance on books, oversimplifying the benefits that come with technology and the useless books that exist out there.

I will not agree less.

This is how we have been drawn. Technology has taken way the power of the brain.

18. Those In Power "Poop" On Our Graves Even After We're Gone.

Is this one, Kuczynski used the power of his art to abruptly reminds us of something really harsh. In his drawing, it seems like the cat is about to poop out one of the mice's friends or family members, while they anxiously wait to give the animal the respect and rest they deserve.

Those In Power "Poop" On Our Graves Even After We're Gone
Pawel Kuczynski
It could also mean that once we're eaten by our powerful governments, all they do is "poop on our grave" even after we're gone.

19. A Criticism Of Our Toxic Work Culture
This one is a meaningful and brutal reminder that the work culture we have created in the world is completely destructive to any hint of creativity out there.

A Criticism Of Our Toxic Work Culture
Pawel Kuczynski
People become "slaves" of their work and their bosses, and work exactly as expected, big corporations and rich bosses plow the fields with the sweat and tears of those who they exploit

20. Those Who Fight In Wars Are Often Oblivious To Themselves And To Their Surroundings
There is no doubt that some of Kuczynski’s illustrations are a punch to the stomach, and this one is easily one of them. The fact that this soldier seems to take pride in his violent role in war through his selfie is hard to look at.
Those Who Fight In Wars Are Often Oblivious To Themselves And To Their Surroundings
GerhardHaderer
The artist also brings in the fact that he is completely unaware of his surroundings, and has no idea at what he’s pointing at.

21. When Taking The Perfect Selfie Has Become More Important Than Staying Alive
The picture strikes us as an exaggerated reference to the fact that people have completely lost it with the selfie situation. Someone decided to take a selfie with a shark, just before being eaten by it.

When Taking The Perfect Selfie Has Become More Important Than Staying Alive
GerhardHaderer
And well, the illustration couldn’t be more ironic since research shows that many more people have died from selfie-related incidents in comparison to shark attacks.

22. When Did We Stop Seeing The World Without A Screen In Front Of Us?
What a sad reminder that humanity has completely lost it when it comes to the priorities people have when looking at something beautiful. Instead of actually watching the sunset, every single person on this beach is taking a picture of it, completely missing the point.

When Did We Stop Seeing The World Without A Screen In Front Of Us?
GerhardHaderer
That picture will most probably make it to social media after, and the sunset will forever be forgotten.

Wow!..u Just made my day.

23. Instead Of Finding Happiness We Have Learned To Fake A Smile To Survive.

Life is hard, and the world has collectively experienced some of the biggest challenges and crises we’ve ever seen in the past year. So to stay smiling is not only a form of survival but also a reminder that something good still exists.


Instead Of Finding Happiness We Have Learned To Fake A Smile To Survive
GerhardHaderer
Here, artist Gerhard Haderer makes reference to people getting on their fake smiles from a smile shop, instead of working internally to get that smile back

24. The Spirit Of Baking Christmas Cookies Has Been Replaced By Screen Time.

This is a hard one because it strikes as a bit of an exaggeration for something that could be debatable for parents.

The Spirit Of Baking Christmas Cookies Has Been Replaced By Screen Time
GerhardHaderer
We are guessing that the artist refers to the fact that baking cookies were once a Christmas family affair and a beautiful moment that parents got to spend with their kids. Here, the mother is baking her cookies alone, while all of her children are on their screens.

And what then would you call evolution?

psucc:
I will not agree less.

This is how we have been drawn. Technology has taken way the power of the brain.

25. Reading The Newspaper In A Cafe Is A Phenomena Nowadays.

Haderer did an incredible job here drawing on the laptop cafe culture that has become so common in many places around the world. Local cafes often have rows of people writing emails, participating in video calls, and working their way into a fast-paced life.

Reading The Newspaper In A Cafe Is A Phenomena Nowadays
GerhardHaderer
So in this illustration, the artist makes reference to reading a newspaper in a coffee shop being “old-school”.

mrdharkchild:
25. Reading The Newspaper In A Cafe Is A Phenomena Nowadays.

Haderer did an incredible job here drawing on the laptop cafe culture that has become so common in many places around the world. Local cafes often have rows of people writing emails, participating in video calls, and working their way into a fast-paced life.

Reading The Newspaper In A Cafe Is A Phenomena Nowadays
GerhardHaderer
So in this illustration, the artist makes reference to reading a newspaper in a coffee shop being “old-school”.

baba no send.