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
Visual clutter first and foremost. The US flag is nothing but clutter, none of which sparks joy.
Communist symbolism sparks joy but it makes no sense to assume that a communist government would adopt a version of the old national flag with an exact rendition of the party emblem on it, as most alt hist artists assume. Historical precedence makes it far more likely to assume that they would just keep the old flag or that they would make a completely new one with symbolism appropriate for flags, ie. simple figures like stars, not intricate party logos.