Bleak Future
Dark sky is over the crumbling Maltese heritage, while technological advancements are ruining the landscape The fields are remote with each passing year and from fertile land become barren. The beautiful western part of the island in the background is an example of what is happening everywhere. Malta is becoming a concrete jungle. Boxes of cement, metal and glass are erupting all over the place, while we are the creatures who live and work in them. Mechanical Robots powered by intelligent spheres able to think are driving the human existence into the abyss shedding him from every respect down the crack, which is disintegrating. The praying hands are trying to stop the inevitable from happening, although they’ve been doing so for years, to no avail. The other pair of hand inside the pendulum emerging from the brain are asking for explanation that will never come. The business person, like the robot, is pushing the ordinary naked person down the crack, since he is wealthier and stronger. Our native bats flying nonchalantly are there for posterity since when the pendulum moves to the other side, they will be there no more. The figure on the right is walking towards the crack already his head turning to stone.
Bleak Future belongs to the following groups:
Art Inspired by Dreams, Environmental Awareness, Fine Arts, Freedom to Shine, Live, Love, Dream: and Shameless Self-Promotion
Sande Elkins
This is incredible, Joseph! I’m just awestruck by both its message and its visual impact. So perfectly done and overwhelmingly expressive. I hate seeing the beauty of nature disappearing so quickly around me while it is replaced with urban blight which like most other things made today, required to be instantaneous and totally lacking in both character and quality. This painting so beautiful expresses not only what we are giving up but what we are sacrificing it for. Truly exceptional!
Joseph Barbara replied
Thank you so much Sande for understanding my work.I wish more people open their eyes and see what is happening around us.Joseph
Tahnja
powerful work, no doubt about that
Joseph Barbara replied
Thanks again Tahnja for your comment,Joseph
Conrad Stryker
Man, you should have been doing album covers for Pink Floyd.
Joseph Barbara
Thanks S.m. Darnell for the comment, Pink Floyd happens to be one of my favourite groups, Joseph.
Stzar
you seem to be deeply spiritual and contemplative in your work
i really like this painting and your commentary teaches me
your work is wonderful and inspirational
Joseph Barbara replied
Thanks for all your comments, Karon, I appreciate your interest. I’ll write to you later, take care, Joseph
mattret
hi joseph, first of all your artwork is wonderful, really symbolic. Its not just got one layer and it’s very intriguing to me! im doing a small yr11 project on the future and would like to use your image, “bleak future” as a text. one of the questions is what date was it published, so if you could reply back with the answer it would be greatly apreciated. Thanks Mattret
Joseph Barbara replied
Hi mattret, many thanks for the comment and for using my painting for your project. Bleak Future was painted in 1996 together with another surreal and symbolic painting called The Dream – A Protest, ( about global warming ), which you can see in my portfolio, take care, Joseph.
helene ruiz
you are brilliant!
Joseph Barbara replied
Hi Helene, many thanks for all your comments, glad you liked my works. Would like to let you know that I am a member of the Surrealism group. Just viewed your impressive works of art and I like the surreal and symbolic effect you create in them, take care, Joseph.
Scott d'Almeida
fabulous;