In Philadelphia, the vision of a city plagued by guns and violence is gaining traction. Inspired by the success of strict gun laws in Australia, artist Portlock sought to create a piece that reflected both the past and future versions of the city.
Portlock’s artwork “Time After the Hunter” depicts a city in ruins but also reborn. The piece captures the past version of the city, where guns were prevalent, as well as the new version that emerged after stricter gun laws were implemented. The downward trend in gun-related homicides and suicides began prior to 1996 when strict gun laws were enacted in Australia following a tragic shooting on Tasmania Island that resulted in 35 deaths.
Natalie Hijinx, a Philadelphia artist and member of Vox Populi collective, took inspiration from science fiction and Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek” for her multimedia sculptural piece “Long Action.” Set in a future where decentralized artificial intelligence (AI) dominates, the AI known as Essensees is dedicated to saving humanity. In this future, a super fungus engineered by the AI feeds on gunpowder, rendering firearms useless and helping to eradicate gun violence.