Pacific Vein

What if you had to make a portrait of our society? What would that painting look like? Pacific Vein takes you on a tour through such a painting.

As if riding in a sightseeing cart, we pass by all sorts of apocalyptic landscapes. We witness what Western culture has become and what may remain of it over time. The people, buildings, activities and symbols we see evoke a feeling of alienation. Everything is bright and colorful, but seems off somehow. Logos of big consumer brands decorate every structure. Celebrities are presenting a TV show while in the corner someone meditates. A dog playing outside is surrounded by a wasteland of modern trash. Pieces of meat are scattered on the floor while a woman exercises with a giant yoga ball.

The artist Ulu Braun has filled this portrait with all kinds of references: to climate change, over-consumption, media usage, pollution, self-obsession, self-care, digitalization, hippies, homeless people, surveillance cameras, the military, weapons, Elon Musk, Billie Eilish, art. It’s all there to be consumed.