9GAG Opens The World’s First Meme Museum, Peek At Its Cheeky Exhibits
Image via K11 Art Mall
Memes are, and have been, everywhere, so much so that they’ve become an integral part of language, transcending traditional language barriers. It’s only fitting that they have their own cultural history showcase, a sentiment reflected in this exhibition and its artworks.
9GAG, a platform synonymous with meme culture since 2008, has teamed up with K11 Art Mall to open the world’s first meme museum, where the website is based. Over 100 instantly recognizable memes are displayed prominently in an innovative, LED-lined space, with great-yet-terrible puns as section names: ‘In The Meme-time’ is just one of them.
The details of the exhibition, as reported by HYPEBEAST, include an exploration of global internet culture via the ‘Meme-go-round’, a ‘Meme Me’ instant photo booth, and a fun temporary tattoo at the ‘Memeingful Tattoo Station’.
Image via K11 Art Mall
‘In The Meme-time’ is a retrospective look back at the pieces that have shaped us and our social-media-heavy culture, and ‘A Meme Is Born’ is a chance to win US$100 cash prizes by creating original memes. In a video posted by user Lisa Tang, part of the exhibit uses AR to bring 2D classics to life, a fresh new look on something that we only ever see on flat screens.
And Sarim Akhtar, the face of the ‘Disappointed Fan’ meme, was delighted at being featured in the museum.
I got featured in Hong Kong 🇭🇰 museum of memes 🎉 yohooo 🤩😍 pic.twitter.com/uQ8GL0s7l7
— Sarim Akhtar (@msarimakhtar) July 31, 2021
However, what might just steal the spotlight is the display of the exclusive 9GAG meme NFT, In Meme We Love, a piece that was sold for 9.00ETH, or US$26,595, last month. It’s not just one meme for sale as an NFT like we’ve seen before, but a collage of the well-loved, iconic classics.
All jokes aside, K11 sums up the resonance of memes well, while explaining why they deserve the appreciation and resources of a full exhibit: “they’re more than jokes, but how we celebrate and satirize current events, and how we self-deprecate as a community. It’s internet culture.”
The cultural landmark meme museum runs at K11 Art Mall until September 5, 2021.
Image via K11 Art Mall
[via Insider, images via K11 Art Mall]
Also check out these recent news
