Apocalipsis

To the Human Race;

Every morning I wake up and look outside the window wondering what the day will bring about. I get out of bed, have a glass of water, feed the two cats that live with me, cook breakfast, eat breakfast, brush the teeth, wash the face, get dressed and walk out the door. As I leave the apartment I greet the concierge, the neighbours and the squirrels that come to the front door to be fed. I take a deep breath as I step outside and feel the sunshine on the face. I look at the colours in the sky and watch a flock of pigeons fly by. Everything is harmonious and life outside the body I inhabit is dancing graciously within the universe. I feel full and content and I want nothing but to share the love with your people. As easy and effortless as this might seem, interacting with the human race can sometimes be quite challenging.

As I walk around the city the eyes and the heart are open. These eyes look for other eyes so that the heart can feel other hearts. However, sharing the heart seems to be discouraged on this planet. Your people appear to be terrified just by the thought of doing so. On Earth, the fear of the unknown seems to be a widespread virus and many do not find it comfortable when an alien smiles at them on the street, even when there is much warmth in this heart. Mostly every person I run into seems to be rather discontent with life. Most are in a constant hurry, embittered about not having enough money or time -I am still puzzled by your concept of these two 'values'- to stop their thoughts for a moment and accept a passing smile. You humans seem to live in a constant paradox, wanting someone or something to solve your problems but running away in fear and second guessing hidden intentions when someone comes to your rescue.

Outside my carcass I sense there is a lack of faith for the future. I sense nothing but hopelessness in most people's eyes. Everyone seems to be defeated and the end of the world appears to be the faster and easiest way out. I have seen many billboards alerting us about the year 2012: "Will you survive?" "What will your government do for you?" and "Who will be left behind?" are some of the warnings. I have recently learnt this is in fact some advertisement for a Hollywood flick, those you like so much, but why are they inducing fear? Is the end near? Is this the apocalypse? Maybe. The world is not over and yet people walk around in a completely inward motion, unaware of what is going on around them, too concerned about their busy schedules and busy lives. You might as well be dead. Once in a while I run into someone whose eyes are open and his or her heart smiles back at this heart, but it doesn't happen too often. On my planet, eyes wide open are essential for survival. When your eyes are open you not only allow things in, you also give things out; the fundamental law of the universe. Give love and you shall receive it. Receive love and you shall be free to give it. To those whose eyes are opening, I encourage you to not be afraid by what you may see; it is only the truth and the truth shall set you free. Freedom is love, love is free and through our eyes we can give it and receive it. It is most necessary for us to co-exist peacefully as a collective, but on this planet eye contact is scarce. On this planet most of you walk while either looking down, immersing yourself in your 'cameramusic player-GPS-mail checking-web browsing phone,' looking right through people or even straight ahead into nothingness.

And so you have been taught: be afraid, be indifferent, and be ignorant. This seems to be the campaign on Earth. No wonder why you live so unhappy, unfulfilled, and always wanting more. No wonder the planet itself seems to be getting angrier and more agitated with each passing year. Fear, indifference and ignorance are holding you back. Nobody looks outside themselves. Nobody looks deeply inside either. Most everyone seems to be holding back from getting in touch with the very root of whom they are but doing so will allow you to become aware of yourself and your surroundings. It will enable you to look inside to find the answers rather than listening to the few in 'power'; those who like power too much know nothing at all. You humans need to become aware to understand the world that you live in and those who live in this world with you. You need to grow out of your shells to be able to take responsibility for your own actions; for your own fate. First you need to understand what is on the surface and what is deep within.

As it is, it seems we are indeed at the verge of civilization's collapse. Every notion that has been established as the true and fundamental grounds for human evolution is now being shaken from its core; only because some of you are beginning to remove your blind-folds. Maybe there are not too many of you yet, but my kind was taught to focus on the positive; focus on the good things and make them count as double. I have to admit that I have been living on this planet for a bit too long and sometimes I get caught up in the negativity. But I keep my eyes open.

I force myself to see even when it gets hard and painful. I wish more humans opened their eyes. I wish more and more people began to question the laws and regulations that have been imposed throughout your history. Every social concept established needs to be re-thought, needs to be broken up, thorn apart and questioned a thousand times. It is time to re-write your future, from a brighter and more ethical perspective. Your money and power based system is falling apart. Your ego trip is crumbling into a pile of dust. The current system is like an aging tree that has now died and needs to be removed from its roots so that the malnourished soil in which it stands, can be cleaned up. Only after the soil has been replenished the planting of new seeds will be possible. Chopping the tree down in pieces, a very "humane" thing to do, is further poisoning every chance of re-birth; every possibility of a new Earth emerging from its ashes. You need to make changes before you are consumed by your own fire.

I beg you, as your humble servant, to consider what has been said. Stop running for a moment. Stand still. Listen to the wind, the birds chirping and the many sounds of silence. Look at the colors of nature and the order within the chaos. Take time off your never-ending busy schedules to smell a flower or smile back at the world. Question everything and find your own answers. Do not follow those who pretend to know you better than what you know yourself. Those are liars. Be honest and speak only from your heart; that is your truth. Pay attention. Give a hand. You people need each other and the only way you will survive is by opening your eyes, to let it all in and give it all away. Love is the only way. It is what is going to save us... you...

My best wishes, as for deep inside you are all beautiful...

"Apocalipsis", by Agata Ivanna Pogorelsky. 4th Year New Media.

The work originally manifested itself through a charcoal sketch and was later brought into the digital media to become part of this book. The result, compared to the original drawing, is a rather chaotic collage of personal photographs and web-based images. The four elements in nature are represented emerging from the planet's core. Fire, air, water and earth exist within each other and are constantly transformed by human's hands. Burning factories are consumed by fire while their poisonous emissions pollute the air. Air transforms into wind to create ocean waves which fiercely wash away the land. From the land, the soil, trees emerge triumphantly half being, half digitalized. The binary code which make for their leaves go floating in space to turn into stars. The pillars of two ancient civilizations create balance opposing each other, while looking over the present time from a supreme and higher altitude. The two elements which represent God are in their original state of drawing, for as an alien wouldn't be able to photograph mythical bodies. The feathered serpent watches over the planet, the beacon of life. Her tail bursts out from the center of the Earth, through an atomic bomb that nukes the arctic pole. Her head reaches for the stars, unifying Heaven and Earth. The moon guards the Mayan temple while the sun heats Egyptian pyramids and the deserted sands of Africa. The hand of the creator caresses it all and the eye curiously contemplates, wondering if the time has come to start it all over again...