When the World Shatters is an article, featuring recent works—a mix of finished paintings, unfinished pieces, and studies— which explores my observations on the current global situation. Some of these works were intended for my Series on War but fit perfectly within this context.
When the World Shatters sounds like a dramatic title. Most likely, we all experience the current events on the world stage from different perspectives, influenced by our geographic location. Nevertheless, few are truly satisfied with recent developments. When a world shatters, it doesn’t happen overnight; it is a continuous process. But like everything destructive, this collapse occurs much faster than any constructive buildup. Here are some of the cracks and fractures in a nutshell.
The Decay of Diplomacy and Order
A core development is the destruction of diplomatic institutions and the near-total disappearance of diplomacy. It is in the nature of things that countries with different cultures, ethnicities, histories, and religions have different interests. If we want or need to maintain relationships, the high art of diplomacy is required. If we abolish it, we head toward the “right of the strongest.”
As a result, alliances shatter, even though cooperation is crucial for peace, progress, and the future. If we offend old friends, try to overreach them, or treat them like enemies, they will eventually turn away and forge new alliances [1].
This external collapse is mirrored in language: when words are manipulated to justify actions, the foundation of truth shatters. Internationally recognized institutions—such as the UN, the WHO, or the International Criminal Court—are not only undermined but targeted with threats and sanctions [2].
Breach of Trust and the Era of Fortune Seekers
When the world shatters, all credibility and trust vanish. Whether in private partnerships, friendships, or the economy: once trust is gambled away because one party cares only about personal gain, the fracture is almost impossible to mend.
We are entering the era of “Fortune Seekers.” Personal gain, extortion, and bribery are no longer practiced behind closed doors; they are even boasted about. A so-called elite, driven by greed, wants to grab as much as possible before the show ends. This greed creates a sophisticated system to accelerate wealth accumulation. It is no longer just about siphoning off funds; it is about manipulating the system so that even more is generated. Activities that were previously criminal—such as using insider knowledge or manipulating the stock market through the targeted release of information and leveraged options—are becoming the standard [3].
Boundless Destruction
When enough has shattered, there is no stopping it. Where there was once an effort to protect children, they are now targeted by bombings while sleeping in meager tents or shot while attempting to receive life-saving aid [4]. With every child killed, not only does the world of their parents shatter, but a cornerstone of humanity and civilization breaks as well.
The environment, nature, and the oceans are also shattering. In Gaza, centuries-old olive groves are being razed to the ground; elsewhere, areas are burned down to buy land cheaply. The earth is rendered infertile for decades by thousands of tons of bombs, while the oceans rapidly approach their tipping point [5].
Social Decay and Inner Distress
Finally, societies shatter from within. Once internal strife reaches a certain level, a war is often started because an external enemy provides a sense of unity. The same applies to religion: godless actors within a “clerical-fascist” architecture, who constantly practice lies and deceit, now form the phalanx of “holy warriors.” War serves as another source for enrichment or a way to launder stolen money.
This macrocosm of chaos find its counterpart in the microcosm of the individual. The spiritual balance is disturbed: external destruction leads to inner destruction through fear or numbness. When all these points intertwine, the world finally shatters.
P.S.: This article may sound more pessimistic than intended and perhaps overlooks the immense opportunities that lie ahead once this dark phase has passed. True renewal will require us to move beyond greed and embrace a more just distribution of our world’s resources. It is high time we recognize that the well-being of the whole depends on the balance of its parts. Refocusing on constructive, equitable action isn’t just an option—it is a necessity, and it is long overdue.
Footnotes / References
[1]: Global Risks Report 2025 (World Economic Forum): Reports on a paradigm shift in world order characterized by greater instability, polarizing narratives, and eroding trust between states.
[2]: WarWATCH IHL in Focus Report 2024-25 (Geneva Academy): Documents serious violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and the increasing pressure on international legal institutions.
[3]: SEC Enforcement Insights 2024: Details ongoing cases of insider trading and market manipulation, noting how “shadow trading” and information misuse remain systemic issues.
[4]: Human Rights Watch World Report 2025: Specifically documents the unprecedented scale of civilian casualties in Gaza, including the deaths of over 18,000 children and attacks on schools and hospitals. The same now in Iran and Lebanon.
[5]: UN Environment Programme (UNEP) / The Guardian “Ecocide in Gaza”: Satellite data shows that nearly 50% of Gaza’s tree cover and agricultural land, including vital olive groves, have been destroyed, leading to long-term soil contamination.
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