Consumed by Consumerism

Most graphic designers associate Photoshop wizardry with making visual magic to engage consumers. One of my favorite digital artists, Erik Almas, is a master at this. His campaigns for Absolut and other products are amazing and award-winning, and his work epitomizes the power of digital imaging tools to make people and places flawless, and products larger than life.It’s a much rarer occasion when we see these tools being used for anti-consumerism, which is exactly the point with the image “Decorum,” by visual artist Margeaux Walter. A visually stunning image, at first glance “Decorum” wows the viewer with the sheer abundance of luxurious leopard fur. Yet upon further inspection, we realize the irony of the photo as the leopard gazes back out on a of scene conspicuous consumption and total suffocation.Walter says about her work, “I'm interested in how ads, technology, and consumerism are changing our lives. We are becoming products of our products, being suffocated by our materials.”Resources:http://www.chronogram.com/hudsonvalley/on-the-cover/Content?oid=2322822http://www.erikalmas.com/#campaigns