After finishing another year of record-breaking climate statisticswe are on the cusp of 2025, which has already revealed its own devastating challenges. As the space for meaningful change shrinks in the coming years, we wonder what the world might look like if we stay on this path. Through the lens of hyper-consumerism, San Francisco artist Michael Kerbow (earlier) depicts the future in his wry and imaginative landscape paintings.
The dinosaurs in Kerbow’s paintings rule a world overrun by the effects of late-stage capitalism. Hints of climate devastation reveal themselves through small details in the background, such as volcanic eruptions, dense, hazy skies and pools of flood water.
Kerbow sprinkles familiar signage and advertisements from recognizable chains within his scenes to introduce humor and make his work more accessible. However, the artist emphasizes the seriousness of the problem:
We like to believe that whatever we currently have will always be there for us, but I suspect it could just as easily fall apart and slip away. I try to remain optimistic about the future, but the truth is that I worry about where I think things are going, especially regarding the health of our ecosystem. With each passing year, alarming statistics seem to emerge, and this comfortable place we call home seems to become more precarious. It is sobering to think of my artwork as foreshadowing a future reality.
As Kerbow continues to create new paintings, you can follow along Instagram and see his website for more.
