White Guy Blinking at Dumpster Fire for Last 200 Years

2018
Wood, paint, PVC, and digital inkjet prints
12 x 12 x 12 inches (each)

Check out the preview in Columbus Alive.

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A precursor to today's GIF, the phenakistoscope was a popular Victorian parlor game and one of the earliest widespread animation devices. Nearly 200 years after the device was first invented, I've created my own using two popular GIFs. Named 2016's "meme of the year" by Mother Jones, the Dumpster Fire GIF went viral during the U.S. presidential election. The following year, one of the most popular GIFs was of a white guy blinking, seemingly in disbelief.

Credits: "Drew Scanlon Reaction GIF" by Tokubetsu, original footage from GiantBomb's Unprofessional Fridays. "Dumpster Fire GIF," creator unknown, original video footage by Harry Garvin.