Phone Buddies, an illustration of tentacles emerging from a phone

Images © Andrew Rae & Ruskin Kyle

Creatures emerge from phones in “Phone Buddies” by Andrew Rae and Ruskin Kyle

Myartisreal·November 1, 2023

Creatures emerge from phones in Phone Buddies by Andrew Rae and Ruskin Kyle

Reflecting on a collection of images titled “Phone Buddies” from 2019, it becomes evident that some aspects of our lives remain remarkably constant. The ubiquity of smartphones, once adopted, seemed unstoppable. Every new year, many make resolutions to reduce their smartphone usage, only to find these intentions lasting merely a day or two.

In the collaborative series titled “Phone Buddies” by illustrator Andrew Rae and photographer Ruskin Kyle, our smartphones are transformed into companions. In one captivating image, green tentacles extend from the phone’s screen, entwining themselves around the owner. In another, a dark, viscous substance oozes from the device, gradually enveloping the subject. Much like pets, our phones provide solace, often becoming our closest companions during moments of loneliness.

Phone Buddies, a phone emitting a cosmic gas Phone Buddies, an illustration of green substance coming out of a phone