What happens after the apocalypse? Do we begin to re-build, or do we plunge into eternal chaos? Will our world be one day filled with dead cities?
Humans have been writing about what happens after the apocalypse for thousands of years. Our notions of the end-of-times seem to have changed a little over time, but they generally suggest things will be bad… really bad. It seems like we’ve settled on a sort of Mad Max scenario for the time being, which makes for great film and literature. A little depressing, though.
The City by Lori Nix
Artist Lori Nix seems to share our cultural fascination with post-apocalyptic scenarios and dead cities. She’s created a beautiful set of post-apocalyptic dioramas, and had this to say about it:
I am fascinated, maybe even a little obsessed, with the idea of the apocalypse. In addition to my childhood experiences with natural disasters, I also grew up watching 1970s films known as “disaster flicks.” I remember watching Towering Inferno, Earthquake, Planet of the Apes and sitting in awe in the dark. Here was the same type of dangers I had experienced day to day being magnified and played out on the big screen in a typical Hollywood way.
I remember a string of disaster movies in the 1990s, and none of them were very good. Nix’s dioramas, however, are excellent.
I don’t want to set the world on fire, I just want to start a flame in your heart. It’s better if you sing it, and yes… I’m referencing that scene from the Fallout 3 teaser trailer. Hard to believe that came out 7 years ago!
I’m not going to narrate each photo. Instead I’ll let you enjoy them, and we can catch up a little later after you’ve had a chance to go through all of them.
Looking at these scenes from dead cities, this world that may one day come to pass, is a little depressing. There’s an entire genre of such imagery called “ruin porn,” and it’s gained major popularity in recent years. As with all media, it’s a reflection of society. The world has been a rather unstable place since 2001, and thoughts of an apocalypse are on many people’s minds.
Though depressing, I believe this kind of artwork is necessary, and even beneficial. It’s a reminder that if we don’t start making better decisions as a species, that we may end up like Nix’s post-apocalyptic dioramas. They’re neat as works of fantasy, but I wouldn’t want to live in a world like this either.
You’ll find plenty more of her artwork on her official website.
