Revered digital artist Beeple, real name Mike Winkelmann, hosted a unique election night event at Beeple Studios in Charleston, South Carolina on November 5.
Playfully titled “Election night or how I learned to stop worrying and love watching America beat the s**t out of America,” the event saw the art community come together to test Beeple’s theory that “even people who strongly disagree with each other can put aside their differences and come together to drink free booze”.
Guests to the event – which ran into the hundreds – enjoyed a group watch-along of the US election coverage, numerous light-hearted events, and a live “Everydays” artwork session by Beeple.
Who is Beeple?
Beeple is a digital artist that’s best-known for his “Everydays” series – daily digital creations that he’s made for the past 17 years and counting. His piece “Everydays — The First 5,000 Days” – a collage of his works so far – sold as an NFT for $69.3 million USD in March 2021.
Prior to that, his piece “CROSSROAD,” a dynamically-generated artwork reflecting the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, drew significant attention, and cemented his place in the NFT industry.
His artwork offers sharp cultural commentary on the practices of tech companies, politicians, and pop culture icons, satirising many of society’s biggest topics.
What took place at Beeple’s Election Night?
This event was more than just an election night gathering; it was a blend of art showcase and performance, in line with Beeple’s unconventional style.
The atmosphere was distinctly American, with themed festivities for everyone who attended. Beeple created one of his signature “Everydays” pieces live, featuring large stone figures resembling Trump tearing through a cityscape, with “Peanut” the squirrel in a sorrowful state.
The event also featured “living sculptures” portraying American personalities, adding satirical depth to the evening’s political flavour. Actors roamed the floor in masks of figures such as Elon Musk, and Donald Trump’s face was imposed on robotic dogs, creating a vivid environment for attendees to reflect on American politics through his art.
Through events like these at Beeple Studios, Beeple aims to spark dialogue on American culture, politics, and wider societal topics, reminding us that beneath the online conflicts, people share a common hope for a better future.
Tech writer, web developer, and blockchain enthusiast. Always learning.