A Belgian graphic artist known as Monk has caused a sensation with his series of restyled travel posters, showing what he calls the "actual and accurate" situation in many popular tourist destinations around the world. His posters are an attempt to counter the "picture-perfect, often Photoshopped" versions found in magazines and airports around the world - like those pictured above.

Monk, a former publicist, was inspired by his love for vintage posters and packaging, and by a graphically striking 1936 travel poster by Israeli artist Franz Kraus (left). As these other posters show, he hasn't been the only one inspired by Kraus' creation. Center is a 2013 Bansky tribute by artist Wiz. At the right is a 2010 version by Indian-born, Canadian-raised artist Meera Sethi.

A Brussels native and a frequent traveler, Monk chooses locations not because of any firsthand knowledge. Instead, he told DW, he chooses a specific issue he wants to address and picks the place most identified with that problem. In the case of his Brussels poster, he chose to highlight the city's near-constant gridlock, grimy streets and - of course - overindulgence when it comes to frites.

Monk said most responses to his poster series have been "super positive," though those who took it the wrong way may not have "understood the spirit" behind his project. "Of course, I know some of the places are beautiful… but the idea was to show the dark side," the truth distorted by reality, he said. In his version of Rio de Janeiro's famed beaches, pollution and violence take center stage.

The street artist said he challenged anyone to take a walk on a beach in a so-called paradise and not come across cigarette butts or bits of floating plastic. His vision of the Maldives draws attention to the growing problem of plastic pollution. Around 8 million tons of plastic waste end up in the world's oceans every year, according to a recent study.

Though he may not have visited many of his chosen targets, Monk bases his images on extensive research and testimonies from locals. In each of his posters, he tries to closely emulate the style of the vintage travel posters from the mid-20th century, a simple, clean design featuring a few bold colors. Here, Europe's ongoing migration crisis is contrasted with the iconic Greece beach scene.

So far, Monk has created 11 different posters, each shining the spotlight on the harsh reality of his selected location. In this take on Phuket, Thailand, the focus is less on the tropical beaches and stunning scenery, and more on the country's notorious child sex trade.

More posters featuring other well-known locations are on the way, Monk told DW. Those already completed are now available for sale. A recent addition is this poster featuring the polluted, crowded and far-from-picturesque scene in Kolkata, India.

For Borneo, Monk followed the lead of many traditional tourist snaps and focused on the native orangutan. But his poster is far from cute: the Bornean orangutan is on the verge of extinction, threatened by hunters and loss of habitat to oil palm, rubber or paper plantations. Follow Monk on Instagram (monk.hf) and Facebook (Monk HF).