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Illustrations by Vicki Ling that explore the feeling of insecurity brought on by modern catastrophes

Ever feel like you're hanging by a string? You're not alone. These soft and surreal illustrations by visual artist Vicki Ling take a closer look at our feelings when we're faced with the disasters and dilemmas of the modern world.

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Vicki Ling's surreal illustration combining delicate flowers, seafood, berries, a teacup and hands against a white background, exploring themes of modern anxiety and consumerism

You know, things that seem to spontaneously erupt, from privacy invasions to public health issues (virus anyone?) and from climate change to personal emotional disorders. "I'm interested in surfacing that sense of tension and insecurity and raise these issues to our collection consciousness in this collection of work," Vicki tells Creative Boom. These are feelings many of us are experiencing today.

Currently based in Chicago, Vicki received her MFA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins in London in 2013. Her works have since been exhibited and published in New York City, Chicago, London, Berlin, and Shanghai, and she has worked with various clients for illustration projects.

Here, we share artworks from her Hanging by a String series and The Plastic Bloom, the latter being where Vicki proposes questions about "the reflections on consumerism and hedonism". These are delicate and beautiful drawings that articulate how many of us are feeling in the world right now. You can discover more of Vicki's work on Instagram.

A delicate hand holding a red string connected to an arrangement of objects including flowers in a vase, a layered cake with berries, a bowl, candles and small sculptural items on a neutral surface
Two figures lie on rumpled white bedding surrounded by pink flowers, oranges, scattered food and domestic objects, with a green-seated chair and straw hat nearby
Two hands hold a taut red string with various bread and baked goods balanced precariously along it, arranged in a skyline formation
Surreal collage featuring a woman's legs, pink poppies, a rabbit, and suspended objects including an apple, candle and coffee cup against a grey marble background
A delicate hand-drawn illustration of a precarious stack of objects including stacked teacups, sliced peaches, a glass of grapefruit juice, layered paper, an orange and apple, balanced on a thin red string held by a hand
A hand holds stacked glass containers with scissors suspended above, topped with a translucent fabric parachute and red flower, suspended by a thin red string
A surreal illustration featuring a seated woman in a white dress beside a table with flowers in vases, surrounded by a turquoise parrot, swimming pool, snake, and intricate botanical foliage elements in mixed media style
Two hands suspended by a red string manipulate various objects including carnation flowers, a leaf, measuring implements, a container of powder, glass vessels and a brush arranged vertically on the string
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