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Glamorized Desolation

Tribute is being paid to dilapidated structures and locations

Implications - Consumer culture has become more polarized, with emphasis placed on the run-down and less fortunate. In particular, artists are documenting images of abandonment by seeking out desolate locations, structures and people, insinuating a societal need to withdraw from material possessions, extravagant lifestyles and the shiny and new.
Trend Themes
1. Abandoned Places Photography - There is a growing trend of photographers taking pictures of abandoned places, from shopping malls to psych wards, which evoke sense of sadness and nostalgia.
2. Exploring the Beauty in Dilapidation - A trend in consumers moving away from material possessions and the shiny and new is resulting in emphasis placed on the run-down and less fortunate, with artists, photographers, and designers creating work that focuses on the beauty of abandoned structures and locations.
3. Humanizing Abandoned Buildings - There is a trend in creating artwork that adds a human face to urban portraits in abandoned places photography, featuring expressive human models that add spice to the mix.
Industry Implications
1. Photography and Art - These industries have seen a rise in demand for photographers and artists that capture the beauty in dilapidation and evoke feelings of nostalgia in consumers.
2. Design - Designers are exploring how to repurpose and reimagine abandoned structures, highlighting sustainability trends and pushing boundaries in terms of unconventional designs.
3. Urban Planning - Exploring the beauty in abandoned structures is opening up opportunities for urban planners to rethink spaces that may have been neglected in the past.
5.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
12 Featured, 80 Examples:
2,354,276 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Dec 09 — Jun 10
Trending:
V. Hot
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

Abandoned Shopping Malls
Abandoned Shopping Malls
Brian Ulrich Captures Recessionary Fallout and Urban Decay
The shocking images of abandoned and decayed retail and big box stores in this gallery were captured by artist and photographer Brain Ulrich. Ulrich’s contemporary artwork has been showcased in several… MORE
Unsettling Imagery
Unsettling Imagery
'Dyssomnia' by Andrey Rogach Gives Me an Uncomfortable Feeling
'Dyssomnia' by Andrey Rogach definitely freaks me out. At best, I feel uncomfortable, yet I can't avert my eyes from these shots. Andrey Rogach does a wonderful job of creating a creepy mood. The shots… MORE
Humanized Urban Portraits
Humanized Urban Portraits
'(In)vulnerable' by Steef Veldhoen Mixes Models & Abandoned Buildings
These portraits by Steef Veldhoen are part of a series called '(In)vulnerable,' which seeks to add a human face to the urban portraits we've seen so much of lately. Typically, these shoots feature abandoned… MORE
Abandoned Photography
Abandoned Photography
Fabiano Parisi Focuses on Human and Industrial Waste
Sometimes it’s not about people or nature, sometimes we need to take in our own abandoned creations and reflect on its forsaken beauty as Fabiano Parisi does with his photography. There is a poignancy… MORE
Isolation Photography
Isolation Photography
The Haunting Photos of Stephan Opitz
German photographer Stephan Opitz has a knack for capturing isolated moments on his camera. These lonely moments are enhanced with lack of color, which can cause you feel slightly sad when viewing them.… MORE
Dilapidation Documentography
Dilapidation Documentography
Jake Dobkin Captures the Real New York
As in love with the city of New York as I am, I naturally fall prey to the 'tourist syndrome' in that I have never really seen the 'real New York.' But thanks to Jake Dobkin, that has changed--at least,… MORE
Apocalyptic Railway Shoots
Apocalyptic Railway Shoots
Antoni Szczupal Finds Beauty in the Desolate for 'Ghost Train'
Antoni Szczupal is a photographer out of Krakow, Poland whose latest gallery features a woman seemingly lost in a gloomy world that has been left behind. Appropriately titled ‘Ghost Train’ by Antoni… MORE
Abandoned Housicles
Abandoned Housicles
The Ice House Detroit Raises Awareness About Housing Crisis
If you’re looking to bring awareness to something important, and that awareness-need takes place during winter, why not embrace the season and make art of it, like the Ice House Detroit does. Shedding…ice…on… MORE
Derelict Psych Wardtography
Derelict Psych Wardtography
The Exhibit of Spring Grove Hospital Shows Creepy Scenes
I never really wanted to visit a mental hospital, I mean it is not very glamorous. With people wetting themselves and getting lobotomies, it just doesn’t seem like a good time. So the Spring Grove Hospital… MORE
Capturing Abandoned Abodes
Capturing Abandoned Abodes
'Deserted Homes' by Sigal Ben David Takes Us to New Orleans
Between Hurricane Katrina and the recession, New Orleans has had a rough decade; 'Deserted Homes' by Sigal Ben David is a photo set that captures the abandoned abodes in NOLA in stark detail. There's… MORE
Creepy Abandoned Homes
Creepy Abandoned Homes
Abandoned Homes Become Popular on Facebook, Green Websites
There’s definitely a sad element to abandoned homes, at least if the abandonment is due to the recession. These houses go beyond your typical abandoned homes, however, and make for great photos. There’s… MORE
Abandoned Urbanscapes
Abandoned Urbanscapes
Empty L.A. Photgraphs Capture the Isolation of City Life
It is an odd thing feeling deserted in a bustling city, but every once in a while you’ll come across what seems like a completely abandoned area of the metropolis, even if it was busier earlier that day,… MORE

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