Some memes behave like supernovas: they sweep everything in their path and disappear in record time. But there are also examples that not only resisted the passing of the years but also became a source of inspiration to create something new and different. Such is the case of the account “Ukiyomemes” on Instagram which shared a series called “Floating World Memes” in which it reinterprets classic and current memes following the characteristic Japanese Ukiyo-e style.
The artist (unfortunately we don’t know his name) explains that everything began with a gift for his wife, who loves the meme of the woman shouting at the cat. Added to that is his grandmother’s original Ukiyo-e collection, and the influence of contemporary artists such as Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara. This clash between classic and modern is more complex than it seems, and each piece demands several weeks of work, combining traditional materials (paper, ink, fabric, paint) and digital ones. If you want to see more, don’t hesitate to visit his Instagram profile and some prints are already on sale on the Society6 portal.
Gallery: Memes in Japanese Ukiyo-e style
