"Roaring Kitty," a six-foot-tall polished aluminum monument, is the creation of artist Brendon McNaughton, crafted in 2023. This imposing sculpture pays tribute to the influential figure behind the GameStop stock market event, known by the aliases "Roaring Kitty" and "DeepFuckingValue." It embodies the themes of empowerment, individual influence, and the astonishing power of collective action in the digital world. The work captures the spirit of defiance and the unexpected impact that can emerge from the convergence of individual voices in the interconnected realm of finance.
The form of the sculpture, a roaring kitty rearing like a horse, draws inspiration from the iconic imagery of Napoleon Crossing the Alps, symbolizing leadership, courage, and a challenge to the status quo. This pose captures the essence of defiance and the unexpected power that lies within what is often perceived as small, insignificant, or dumb money.
The form and creation process of 'Roaring Kitty' references the pioneering spirit of the Futurist Movement, particularly recalling Umberto Boccioni's 'Unique Forms of Continuity in Space.' The sculpture echoes the Futurists' fascination with speed, technology, and the dynamism of modern life, translating these themes into the contemporary context of digital empowerment and financial markets.
The genesis of "Roaring Kitty" is a remarkable journey through the realms of AI, starting with a text prompt created by ChatGPT and transformed into a visual concept by Dall-E AI Image Generator. This image then served as the source for an AI 3D file generated by Meshy, the most advanced AI 3D file generation software of 2023. This process, an intertwining of AI technologies at various stages, exemplifies what can be described as 'AI-ception.'
"Roaring Kitty" stands not just as a physical sculpture, but as a reflection of the digital era's complexities and possibilities. It invites viewers to ponder the interplay of technology, individual agency, and collective power in shaping modern narratives. Through this monument, McNaughton captures a moment in history where traditional boundaries were blurred, and new forms of influence emerged, encapsulated in the symbolic roaring kitty, a figure of digital-age defiance.
