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Writer's pictureAbby Kessler

'The Most Expensive GIF of All Time' (reading blog #1)

For this assignment, I read an article in The Atlantic titled The Most Expensive GIF of All Time, written by Megan Garber. The report can be found using the following link: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/09/here-is-the-most-expensive-gif-of-all-time/379556/. The GIF in question was created by a digital artist named Michael Green who created the GIF by blending images of the real-life statue of a golden balloon dog created by sculptor Jeff Koons. Koons sold the balloon dog for 58.4 million dollars in 2013 and Green sold it for $5,800 which you can still buy today if you wish. Green explained that he created the GIF to symbolize the destruction of "the values of the tradition of modern art and for our culture to evolve to the logical next step, the digital medium." I really enjoyed reading this article, I find it fascinating when artists destroy artwork to make something new. This example of the deflated balloon dog it reminds me a lot of Banxy's work and how he too likes to destroy art in defiance of tradition. While I do like the message Green is trying to showcase I do think it's a little uncreative. He isn't really doing much while Banxy is still creating before destroying. I do however think the creation of GIFs is the first example I've seen of digital art being created by people other than top-name animators. With the rise of technology, I believe digital art doesn't have any limits especially since a GIF can be played over and over again and shared with pretty much anyone in the world.



GIF by Michale Green











Balloon Dog (yellow) by Jeff Koons












Shredded painting of Girl With a Ballon by Banxy









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