Queer Web was exhibited at Kalasataman Vapaakaupungin Olohuone from 1.6-22.6.2023 for Helsinki Pride!

The Queer Web exhibition features drawing and painting works created by Gabriella Presnal. The pieces were created between 2017 and 2022 and together they combine topics of memes, youth culture, nostalgia, and queerness.

Most of the works also feature AR (Augmented Reality) using a free downloadable app called Arilyn that I made during a course in my studies. The AR features the memes that inspired some of the works and 360 videos! This exhibition has works all the way back from 2017 when my family just moved to Finland, as well as some works I made during my first year studying for my BA, and some more recent works from last year as well.

The 5 work series Meme Nostalgia is a commentary on how memes and internet culture are now woven into what younger generations are nostalgic for, for example, Vines. This is not to say that previous generations did not have “memes” or similar forms of humor, but rather to highlight how in the age of information, current meme culture is as likely to become a form of nostalgia for the generations who grew up with today’s technology.



This project is not in opposition to how memes and nostalgia have been developing, but rather to observe how nostalgia has changed as a result of our surroundings, whether that be technological, political, economic, and so forth.