Born in New Hampshire and based in Connecticut, Shawn Huckins is an artist whose work seamlessly blends America’s rich political history with modern American Internet history for compelling and hilarious results.
Earlier this week, Shawn Huckins released 'American Revolution Revolution,' a detailed collection of paintings of America’s founding fathers with different Internet-age acronyms scrawled across their faces. The acronyms range from common (ROFL – rolling on the floor laughing) to strikingly uncommon (4COL -- for crying out loud; IMSB – I’m so bored).
Shawn Huckins and 'American Revolution Revolution' draw an important parallel between the political advancements of the 18th century and the technological advancements of the 21st, each serving as a defining trait of a generation. “Technology influences how much we know and what we believe, as well as how quickly and intelligently we convey our ideas,” Huckins said. “But does how we communicate govern the value of what we communicate?”
Huckins leaves the answer in your hands. Check out the photo gallery to help form your opinion.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Comedic Historical Art
- Opportunity to explore humorous and ironic juxtaposition of historical figures and current cultural references in the art world.
- Social Media-age Acronyms
- Opportunity for brands to incorporate social media-age acronyms and textspeak into their marketing campaigns to connect with younger audiences.
- Interdisciplinary Artworks
- Opportunity for interdisciplinary artists to explore and blend different fields like history, politics, and technology, to create innovative and unexpected works.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Art and Design
- Artists can use their creative skills to produce unconventional works that challenge traditional norms and attracts new art enthusiasts.
- Marketing and Advertising
- Brands can tap into the language and trends of younger generations to produce more effective marketing campaigns.
- Education
- Opportunity for educators to use the intersection of history and technology to engage students and spark interest in traditional topics.
