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What’s Wrong With Today’s Society Captured In 32 Brutally Honest Illustrations By John Holcroft
Interview With Artist
There are a lot of issues in today's society. Addiction to social media, devaluation of workers, unhealthy lifestyles, and that's just a few of them. A lot of us don't even notice these problems; we either ignore them or don't run into them at all. However, artist John Holcroft tackles them head-on and illustrates the issues of today's world in his satirical and honest art.
John has been illustrating since 1996. He works and lives in the UK. His past clients include Guardian, Telegraph, Times, BBC, and many others. John Holcroft's art looks simplistic, but it hides a deep and complicated meaning. It's pretty amazing how he can portray such serious topics with one simple illustration.
If you want to see some of the previous posts about John Holcroft on Bored Panda, click here and here. Don't forget to upvote your favorite illustrations and to tell us what you think in the comment section below!
More info: Instagram | Facebook | Johnholcroft Website | Etsy
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#1
This Illustration Is Going To Lose Me Some Followers
We got hold of John to ask him some questions about his art: "I started illustrating professionally in 1996, originally studying graphic design in the early '90s, but the recession made it impossible to find work especially as technology was going through a big change. I decided to illustrate using acrylics on board, which changed to digital in 2000. Having created a few different styles, I settled on my current style in 2010 and have been progressing ever since. I get my inspiration from observing life in general. I’ve always been an odd-ball and seen things differently so I think it shows in my work," said John when asked what inspires him to create and when he started to create art.
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#2
Illustration About Mental Health At A Time Of Social Isolation
"I don’t set out to lampoon different parts of society and I’m not on a crusade to solve all problems of today. I’m an illustrator and it’s how I make my living so I need to create show pieces to attract work and the work I create has to resonate with people."
#3
One Day This Will Be Yours
John shares what issues in today's world he is most passionate about: "I’m not more passionate about issues than anyone else; however, I don’t like injustices of any kind so I usually focus my concepts on the things most people care about, such as corporate greed, climate change, and politics. If I had the power to change the world I would try to put an end to corrupt governments and corporate giants having control. I would make sure money is put in the right places, i.e.: tackling climate change and I would have a fairer system that cares for ordinary people."
#5
Enough Said
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Yes, America never has been greater. After destroying law and order, Trump is now telling people he's going to restore law and order. I guess setting your convicted friends free from jail is enforcing law and order.
#6
A Piece About The Fight Against Climate Change
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Government looks left, sees a plastic bottle in your garbage and fines you $10 000 for polluting the environment. Government doesn't see that on the right the president is allowing oilcompanies to drill in nature reserves.
"My style is conceptual and can sometimes be satirical, but I can normally adapt to the brief I’m working on. The look of my style was originally supposed to emulate the old-style screen-print posters, but it has evolved in the last 10 years and nowadays, I try to keep it simple but hard-hitting," shared John when asked to describe his style. He is a freelance artist and does a lot of commission work.
#7
Social Media Can Have A Negative Influence On Teenagers' Self Esteem, Giving Them A False Impression Of How A Body Should Look
#8
Climate Emergency And How We Are Dealing With It
We asked the artist what sort of reactions he gets from people when they see his art: "Most people appreciate the concepts in my work and give me positive feedback, whereas others either don’t quite get it or take great offence and give me grief. The point of my work is to get you thinking and discussing. Of course there will be those who disagree with my points and that’s fine because it keeps me in check."
#9
Profiting From The Causes Of Climate Change
Chyppa Homer 4 years ago
Anybody else notice, that the world is literally crushing Brazil beneath it in this pic. O_o
#10
Making Money
#11
Love Hurts
#12
The Cost Of Pharmaceuticals
#13
Housing Magazine Article About Asylum Seekers Being Evicted And Having The Locks Changed
#14
Online Fraud
#16
Ladder Of Privilege
#17
Illustration About Testing For A Vaccine For Covid 19
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
No, scientific research is very different from what is portrayed here. Some president may say it's something like "Hey, let's try ingesting disinfectants and if that doesn't work we could try some light therapy." , but than, that president isn't the Jenius he says he is.
#18
Working From Home In Self Isolation
Jon S. 4 years ago
I quite enjoy working form home. More time with my wife. More time to do chores. Less stressful commutes. I feel a little disconnected at times and there are definitely some tasks that were easier in an office, but more up sides than down. I'm lucky to live with someone I get on with though.
#20
Going Nowhere
#21
Virus In The Works
#24
Piece About Microaggressions
CbusResident 4 years ago
As Bill Maher put it, if something is a micro-agression, shouldn't it only make you micro-angry?
#25
Healthcare Bureaucracy
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Cutting one red tape, but leaving enough red tape intact so that healthcare won't become accessible for people who really need it...
#26
Illustration About Internet Security
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
That's the front door. But many people leave the windows and backdoor open while they announce on Twitter that they won't be home for the coming 7 days.
#27
Phishing Email Scams On The Increase During Lockdown
#28
Illustration About People Coping Financially During The Pandemic
#29
This Is About Screen Time And How Too Much Can Affect Children's Physical And Mental Health
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago (edited)
*sniff* I smell boomers... (P.S: Full Name, go f**k yourself like a redback spider)
#30
This Is About Saving For Retirement
#31
What Can We Do To Safeguard Our Economies From The Virus?
Literary Lad 4 years ago
change the way economics works, change the game and its rules. don't equate growth to production only, but uplift the conditions of all under served ones with the money previously gathered, and let people discover ways of make their needs met, and put an intelligent diverse think tank to find ways to undo, replace and transition from present way of doing everything to another without minimum hassle
#32
Illustration About The Cost Of The Virus
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Sofia Bellavista 4 years ago
Well done! So simple yet so fitting, most illustrations are eloquent and on point
TheHolyFatherOfToast 4 years ago
I think some presidents were as bad (maybe not worse) than the orange but a lot of the problems have been going on for years. so although they MAY seem modern they are actually very old. We humans think that we have the answer but most of them time we're just pulling out the barbed knife then shoving it somewhere else for someone else to deal with
Judy Windham Saunders 4 years ago
If you have to explain what each picture means, you've missed the mark. Seriously, study the political cartoonists of the mid-20th century. Learn the art of being subtly obvious.
ivan bolitekurac 4 years ago
and tomorrow we will see another "murica is bad!!" article,after that some more "what is wrong with our society"...yeeee
Rissie 4 years ago
I think we should take a step back and stop saying what is wrong and start saying what is. Many of these things are caused by opposing interests and differences in pov. I think wanting to go too fast and too complex is one big underlying problem and combined with an inability to empathize makes it look like others are deliberately trying to take things from you, wen in fact it's just that. Being unable and having too much power. But the thing is, power is given by others to have.
Jackie Butts 4 years ago
Dear Bored Panda... I am getting fed up with political cartoons. I am here to laugh and be inspired.
Jessica Cole 4 years ago
Brilliant as always, thank you for your awareness, as well as sharing your talents with the world. These illustrations bring to light so many issues in our modern world in such a smart way.
Sofia Bellavista 4 years ago
Well done! So simple yet so fitting, most illustrations are eloquent and on point
TheHolyFatherOfToast 4 years ago
I think some presidents were as bad (maybe not worse) than the orange but a lot of the problems have been going on for years. so although they MAY seem modern they are actually very old. We humans think that we have the answer but most of them time we're just pulling out the barbed knife then shoving it somewhere else for someone else to deal with
Judy Windham Saunders 4 years ago
If you have to explain what each picture means, you've missed the mark. Seriously, study the political cartoonists of the mid-20th century. Learn the art of being subtly obvious.
ivan bolitekurac 4 years ago
and tomorrow we will see another "murica is bad!!" article,after that some more "what is wrong with our society"...yeeee
Rissie 4 years ago
I think we should take a step back and stop saying what is wrong and start saying what is. Many of these things are caused by opposing interests and differences in pov. I think wanting to go too fast and too complex is one big underlying problem and combined with an inability to empathize makes it look like others are deliberately trying to take things from you, wen in fact it's just that. Being unable and having too much power. But the thing is, power is given by others to have.
Jackie Butts 4 years ago
Dear Bored Panda... I am getting fed up with political cartoons. I am here to laugh and be inspired.
Jessica Cole 4 years ago
Brilliant as always, thank you for your awareness, as well as sharing your talents with the world. These illustrations bring to light so many issues in our modern world in such a smart way.
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