From the past we travel towards the future. A common thread runs through our nominations. All the nominations are art, and a large part of the inspiration is born out of angst. Angst—fear—used as a means to be creative, to give feelings a place, and to leave something—a voice, a message—behind for the reader, the viewer.

NOMINATIONS

Nomination 1
Commenter: @almaguer
Comment
Hashtag:
Nominated by: solperez

@almaguer is a truly well-rounded artist. Despite the significant limitations of living in Cuba—where he has access to electricity for only one hour a day—he makes time to visit the platform. He does so not just to post, but also to read other users' work, always leaving extraordinary comments that engage with the content while gifting us his own poetic eloquence.

Kudos—it has been a long time since I read a decent piece of fiction. You masterfully handle the atmosphere, the characters, and the narrative pacing. You truly have something solid to show here. I am >quite familiar with the genre, and your imagery is brilliantly executed—the kind that allows the reader to mentally recreate the scenes you narrate with fluidity and precision. Another highlight is your creative ability.

Nomination 2
Artist Photographer: @bambuka
Photography: Light and Darkness
Hashtag: photography
Nominated by: solperez

Nomination 3
Artist @aellly
Post - Wall Art
Hashtag: drawing
Nominated by: wakeupkitty

Why on earth is there a drawing of a huge spider on the wall? Is it because the artist is bored? And what more can be expected?

"At first, I couldn’t think of a suitable subject. But then it suddenly occurred to me that people are always coming into my room to take my things. Like the last time, when someone took my pencils.
So I decided to draw some scary animals around my room to give people a fright. That way, they’d be too scared to come back next time.
Especially my boss’s wife’s father. That old man is always popping into my room to take things. So I thought I’d give him a proper scare.
Originally, I’d planned to draw a python, covering the entire wall to make it look even more striking.

I had no choice but to use the pencils I had to hand to draw some rather scary animals on the wall. So I drew a huge spider."

Nomination 4
Author: @butterfly
Review Museum visit
Hashtag: art
Nominated by: solperez

If you like to visit a Museum in Venice here is your chance.

"The National Archaeological Museum of Venice is one of the oldest public museums in Italy...

...you can visit the Archaeological Museum and some rooms of the famous Marciana library, but I must tell you right away that from the very beginning I was a bit disappointed, entering this museum is to find a path still stuck in 1920, with the typical display cases that were once found in the old and dusty museums, and if for some this may be fascinating, in my opinion it is not so interesting because nowadays museums must be a bit interactive also to give the possibility to those who visit them to better understand both their history and what they contain inside."

Nomination 5
Author: @newton666
Post: The Philosophy of Terror
Hashtag: freewrite
Nominated by: wakeupkitty

Is there a philosophy concerning horror enthusiasts or horror writers? Is it true that those who voluntarily venture into the void are freed from their fears? Is this distraction of the self, or the act of creating something, a good way to prevent the self from wandering aimlessly, worrying and being consumed by fear?

"I do not enjoy dread. It consumes me. For decades, in Beyond Reality, I have traversed the shadowy folds of what we call "being," and I came to understand that horror is not merely a genre: it is a way of knowing.
While others move toward the light, I pause at the fissure. There, where logic stumbles and the spirit suspects the existence of something else another thing watching us from the stillness.
My doctrine arises from an unsettling truth: the world is a cramped room, lit by a nearly dry wick. Panic is the air that rushes in to assail it. It is not an adversary; it is a messenger."

Nomination 6
Cyberpunk Author: @eagithao
Story: Hell's Eye - Chapter 11
Hashtag: story
Nominated by: wakeupkitty

This series already has a large number of instalments and is certainly worth reading. Cyberpunk and thrillers may not be everyone’s favourite genre, but this is about the future. Or is this the world in which we are already living, largely without realising it? The author perfectly combines his IT knowledge with the writing of Hell’s Eye in the dead of night, when fears and the struggle for survival are felt most keenly...

"The cold countdown hammered against my brainstem like a sledgehammer. With every ticking number, my past memories—the rainy nights at the orphanage, Grandpa's face, the pungent reek of motor oil—began to curl and peel away like photographs scorched by open flames.
I couldn't let them wipe my mind! With a feral roar, instead of pulling my hand free from the biometric socket, I slammed my entire body weight forward into it. "You want my memories? Then choke on my pain!"

I willingly dropped the firewalls of my cerebral cortex, dumping the lethal, agonizing physical pain my body was currently enduring straight back into the network through the nano-tentacles. Hell's Eye let out a violent, deafening hum,..."

Nomination 7
Photographer: @beckymia
Photo Story: The Paper Under My Bed...
Hashtag: photography
Nominated by: solperez

Is what is hidden underneath the bed worth saving or does it only cause stress? At least it makes a good photograph accompanied by great words.

"I have a secret under my bed. Not money. Not a diary. Just a wrinkled piece of paper that I’m too scared to throw away and too scared to use.
It’s my job application. I wrote it 4 months ago. Spent all night making it perfect. Every word felt like I'm begging to be picked. I practiced my signature several times so it wouldn’t look shaky.

The morning I was supposed to go submit it, I got scared and I asked myself what if I’m not good enough? What if this is the last chance and I waste it? So I folded it. Then unfolded it. Then crumpled it and threw it in the bin.

At midnight I couldn’t sleep. I dug it out of the trash, smoothed it on my knee, and ironed the wrinkles with my palm until my hand hurt . Then I slid it under my bed. Safe. Hidden."

DATA

Creative upvotes: all except poll
Highest upvote: 100%
Posts: 72
Comments: 101
Votes for other Steem Curators: 0
Countries: 24 + unknown
Communities: 18 + own blog

We’ve really enjoyed reading and looking at your creations. Don’t give up on yourself. Every artist started out as an amateur. Be creative and brighten up your surroundings; bring colour to the world around you through art.
Share your talent and don’t forget to get in touch. Commenting and replying is the start of a wealth of friendships and knowledge.