Artist Imagines New Future for Philadelphia: Redefining Gun Violence Through Visionary Art

Philadelphia has been plagued with gun violence for years, and now a local artist is using his vision to create a new future. Portlock drew inspiration from Australia, where strict gun laws were enacted in 1996 after a tragic shooting on the island of Tasmania resulted in 35 deaths. These laws have since led to a significant reduction in gun-related homicides and suicides, even though a downward trend had already begun prior to 1996.

Portlock’s artwork “Time After the Hunter” portrays a city that has been ravaged by guns but is also reborn. The piece reflects the past version of the city, when guns were prevalent, as well as the new version that emerged after the implementation of stricter gun laws.

Meanwhile, Natalie Hijinx, a Philadelphia artist and member of the collective Vox Populi, used her love for science fiction and Gene Roddenberry (“Star Trek”) as inspiration for her multimedia sculptural piece “Long Action.” Set in a future where a decentralized artificial intelligence dominates, the AI, known as the Essensees, is devoted to saving mankind. In this future, a super fungus engineered by the AI feeds on gunpowder, rendering firearms useless and helping to eradicate gun violence.