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scorpion016 — We're Addicts
#abstract #addict #apple #brain #chains #digital #drug #portrait #strain #surreal #tech #technology #vector
Published: 2016-06-01 19:33:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 592; Favourites: 41; Downloads: 0
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Description
No one is immune, not even you.This is the third installment of my Digital Drugs: The Post-Modern Pursuit of Happiness .
Here are the others: Brain Fried , Always Connected , A Glimpse of the Soul
Available here:
My website
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Comments: 50
I am so glad I don't have a smartphone... although I do question how much time I spend on my computer.
This reminds me of a piece I made: wertyla.deviantart.com/art/Cha…
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Cool piece. I am glad you have the fortitude!
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* ¡Fantástico trabajo! Lo hemos destacado dentro de la carpeta "Featured nº5 o Destacados nº 5" en Special-Groups. (Es la carpeta donde se exhiben los mejores trabajos del grupo).
* Fantastic work! Featured in Special-Groups in folder Featured nº 5. (Best works of the group).
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Wow! Thank you so much. That is cool and encouraging at the same time
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A real pleasure dear friend Sam!
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THANKS A LOT! I REALLY, REALLY APRECIATE IT!
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Coming from Project Comment!
I think that this is beyond stunning! When I first glanced upon this masterpiece, I immediately thought how relatable and how true this concept is. We are slowly beginning to be chained to our new technology and the beliefs of information posted on social media. We are becoming almost completely reliant on technology to give us everything we need on a day to day basis. And what's very depressing about the situation is that it is affecting the way we think and feel, remapping our minds to become literal 'drones' to the cyber world. People can play others for currency or fool them with carefully crafted lies that can be taken back in seconds with a quick edit. It's ludicrous, but it's the world we live in today. You absolutely nailed the representation concepts. The chains represent our deep bondage, the shock an stress on the person's face as our resistance towards it, the switch for the control (And for how the mind can switch into different mindsets in this area), the label for how we are conned online and seen as a tool in some cases, and the small brain as how it can affect our minds and intelligence. That's the way I see it, but your views are likely very different.
Art mode activate!
Okay, so regarding how the art appears, you have a very unique and abstract art style. The edges are smooth and the shapes are easily identifiable (As evidenced by how the Mac monitor looks and how the person appears).
However, there are three things that I believe can be worked on a little more. I'm not sure if it was intended, but if it was a computer or monitor that you were trying to draw, then shouldn't there be a bottom or support for the screen? It almost appears as if it is floating freely...(Yet the head is too. XD). Then, the face is a little too bright. The person may be in front of a screen, but it does make the face harder to focus in on. That might be a place to dull down a little. And then finally, there seems to be a really strong contrast between the colors on the face, which means that the colors have a very strong difference between themselves. For example, if I had a black background and I painted in a white circle, the contrast would be very strong. Unless you were making a difference poster or using a posturize method, then it might be best to try and evenly blend the colors together. However, you won't really need to do this unless if it was intended. Here is a little article on blending colors and contrast: www.deviantart.com/art/Colour-…
Overall, the meaning is very striking and powerful, but I think that the art methods themselves should need a little more attention regarding contrast, models (Regarding the computer), and brightness.
Have a great day!
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Thanks for the super helpful comment! You are right, my take on it is quite different, but I love how everyone interprets it personally.
Regarding the device, my intention was to create a device that represented all of our devices without being a single one. But since many people are getting confused, I think you are right.
I see what you mean about the face. It is slightly to bright. I was trying to replicate a dark room with the screen being the only light source, but even then it is too bright.
The colors I have no control over though. I think you will be surprised when I say I used Microsoft OneNote for this whole series. I can only choose between 20 colors of pen and 20 shades of highlighter, and they don't mix. But thanks!
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thats is soo true. the idea behind it that technology is like a drug.. well the stuff involved with technology
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Thanks! In fact, any digital screen has a drug like effect on the brain and causes addiction. That's why everyone is buried in their devices, today. It get's worse when what we do on the device is addicting in itself, then the addiction can be twice as strong
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it sucks doesnt' it. : (
i hate to say but i know im hooked
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That's step 1 in the change process
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admitting i have a problem?
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Yep! Most people are in denial
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yah.. i would be if someone said i was offline, i'd be all "No way man, i can totally drop it in a second."
but im weak V.=.V
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Very nice and interesting concept (the chains are a nice touch and I like how small the brain is to make room for the wiring and cables from the phone); Great job
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Thanks for the compliment and for noticing the shrunk brain
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My comment as ProjectComment member (consider joining, you may end up with nice, long, considerate comments on your work as well, or enjoy posting them yourself).
Besides the obvious message of addiction, I like the sullen details here. The chains are piercing the skin, drawing blood, yet there's no obvious signs of discomfort from this Mac's user (an oddly specific brand placement... not sure what you meant with that [pc guy myself]). The user just seems complicit in what's happening and is drained of emotion. The exposed veins and arteries suggest an adverse effect of the addiction akin to actual drug use, and the the shrunken eyes as portrayed by the squinting lines above the pupil seems to suggest a lack of awareness or control... again more complicitness. The barcode on the back of this person's neck, along with the "transmitter" in the back are interesting details. The barcode, what could that be for? It's there as a consequence of what's happening I'm sure, maybe as a simple means for a corporation to identify and serialize this person? The transmitter may be a metaphor for how the inner thoughts of an individual are now more than ever easily revealed to those who shouldn't know because of one's actions online.
In summary I think the message behind this is conveyed well, not just in what's apparent, but also the smaller details which are left to interpretation.
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Way thanks for your input and your compliments! (I am on project comment!)
I like how you have given insight to many of the minor details which get often overlooked. I can't in all honesty claim that they all were on purpose, some where just to create a feeling or an atmosphere, but you took that feeling and developed it further. Thanks again
The "transmitter" is switch. It is in the off position. But you do have a good point if it is a transmitter 
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I'm loving the small details that you put, like the barcode and the little switch on the top of the head. As for the proportions, I actually like that the features are exaggerates and distorted. Since everyone is so consumed in media, we begin to see things in a warped, twisted, and unrealistic way. I don't know if this was intentional, but I find that to be and extremely fantastic bit of symbolism in this piece. Great job, and keep doing what you do!
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Thanks for the input. The proportions were intentional for kindof that reason, yes. But the desired emphasis is on how this distorted thinking changes who we are, which is just the next step.
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True, very true. Unfortunately as time goes on, this case will most definitely increase. Soon people will become computers themselves.
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Scary day indeed. I hope it doesn't happen in my lifetime, or my (future) kids lifetime. :/
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Yes, I am addicted to learning things and knowing people.
Sometimes reading a book made years ago with bad or outdated information while ignoring mankind doesn't work for me.
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Very abstract and the message doesn't feel like it demands attention
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Thanks for the feedback. How do you think I could make it more demand of attention?
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making it look more life like to make people feel like this could happen to them.
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This is amazing, I always love symbolic art. This has such irony and truth in it.
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Thanks a lot! This biggest irony is the hours and hours I spent in front of my Surface inking this (usually with my face even closer to the screen)!
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Hahah! guess you were literally working with your inspiration.
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Haha! I see what you did there
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This rings so true for so many people... a lot of which I see and/ or experience in my own day-to-day life.
I love this art.
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Yep, me too. I set this as my background to remind me to get of the device and get back in the analogue world!
Thanks!
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As an online digital artist yourself, do you feel that this is a possibility of becoming all too literally bound to the virtual world or interactive devices (like the laptop I'm typing this on, ironically) and this could happen to you as well?
I understand that you said "no one is immune", but it can't have been comfortable, let alone easy, to plan and create this frankly very impactful image. I like to think that while technology is highly addictive, this image represents a darker extreme, while the more positive extreme is represented in the more uplifting and beautiful pieces of art that come from it. Still, bravo!!
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Thanks a lot! Your analysis is thought provoking. I must say, fighting digital addiction is a daily struggle for me. Life is too digital. I can make art about it because I have come to recognize that yes, it has happened and does happen to me. I think it means so much because everyone knows that they are the addict when they look at it, just as I see myself every time I see this piece. It is an uncomfortable thought to consider how much time we spend daily on useless digital undertakings. But like you say, both light and darkness come from our digital devices.
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awesome insights. Literally chained to the screen...but...but...which allows us to do things so much faster, including art, but threatens to rob them of their essence and all that remains is you and the screen and a keyboard...
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True, tech is an awesome tool that gives us more time to do meaningful things. But media consumption, series, gaming, porn: these steal that extra time away.
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I really like this picture and the message in it. It really gives you something to interpret. I also like how you chained the person to the Ipad, for I think this shows beeing addicted to computers, but also always beeing connected with other people. I can't understand what you want to express with the brain though and the picture could have been drawn a bit better, because I think the shaing on the head is a bit off, slightly. But good image
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Thanks! I'm glad you my message was clear
As we depend and use computers more and more, our memory, attention span, mental health, and all cognitive ability has been shown to decrease, especially through gaming, social media, and "quick fix" entertainment. That's why the brain is shrinking.
Our daily life is being replaced with technology, and our experiences in the natural world are being replaced with constant digital and technical experiences which have no value. That is why the brain is becoming digitized.
When we use screens (smart phones, TVs, etc.) our brain is so distracted that we often don't realize what is happening around us. We become disconnected with our entire body. the screen has a power to silence our entire body, which is why we often realize how uncomfy we are only after sitting and watching YouTube for 2 hours. It is also why so many people cause accidents while texting. That's why the cables are broken, and the switch is off.
I'm generally not good with drawing people (make that never!), so you are right. I could use some practice!
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These are interesting comments and responses. I'm in Project Comment, too, but have not started.
The person might be more developed than: apparently male, thin lips. If you had drawn a beautiful young woman or man with deep eyes (this is not about adding a body, that part is very clear) and flushed cheeks and dreamy or intelligent expression, full lips, etc. this could invite the viewer to interpret in more open ended ways, perhaps. Fascinating discussion.
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I see what you mean. Thanks!
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