Brace for Impact

This 20-meter-long painting presents scenes unfolding at an unspecified time and place. It depicts rows of seated figures with their hands covering their heads, while birds, airplanes, and floating figures soar above. Smoke rises, birds sing, and the sun shines. The painting contrasts the imagined catastrophe - an emergency situation that reflects fear, insecurity, and a sense of impending doom - with nature’s unbroken continuity.
The base color of the painting is a glow-in-the-dark paint, typically used in shelters, amplifying the feeling of urgency and chaos that accompanies the rush to safety. The human figures are derived from airplane emergency safety cards, whose technical, almost naive, language contrasts with the catastrophic events they are meant to convey. Other imagery in the painting is generated using AI, merging imagination with reality. While AI technology pushes humanity forward, it also raises a concern that it may lead to the end of humanity or cause significant disruption in nature.
The instruction, "Brace for Impact", feels more relevant than ever. The war in israel, climate crises, and rapid technological advancements have flooded modern life with anxiety and uncertainty, creating a constant, obsessive focus on preparing for emergencies.