Artstation gallery of the artist with more images from the series

NYT : Nooooo stop sharing based communist sci fi concept art on your authoritarian social media

In one Beijing artist’s recent depiction of the world in 2098, China is a high-tech superpower and the United States is humbled. Americans have embraced communism and Manhattan, draped with the hammer-and-sickle flags of the “People’s Union of America,” has become a quaint tourist precinct.

This triumphant vision has resonated among Chinese.

The sci-fi digital illustrations by the artist, Fan Wennan, caught fire on Chinese social media in recent months, reflecting a resurgent nationalism. China’s authoritarian system, proponents say, is not just different from the West’s democracies, it is also proving itself superior. It is a long-running theme, but China’s success against the pandemic has given it a sharp boost.

:wojak-nooo: :wojak-nooo: :wojak-nooo:

“America isn’t that heavenly kingdom depicted since decades ago,” said Mr. Fan, who is in his early twenties. “There’s nothing special about it. If you have to say there’s anything special about it now, it’s how messed up it can be at times.”

Fan Wennan: No

posts megastructure draped in red banners

The artist also got some sort of movie deal

:thonk:

Edit:

Credit to the genzedoong poster I stole this from

"So I checked up the company running the adverts in the FB Ad Library and its a Cyprus-based company and the people who manage its page are based primarily in * drum roll * Ukraine (and Belarus)"