What Is Vaporwave?

Wall art and apparel company Radical Ave creates and sells items referencing classic television shows and movies from the 1950s to the 1990s. In addition, Radical Ave produces items that reflect popular culture and has been involved in such movements as the cyber punk and vaporwave movements.

Vaporwave is a term that describes both a musical and art genre and came onto the scene around 2009. Since then, there have been numerous reports that the movement has died, but it has actually been evolving. In fact, the movement has remained steady since it peaked in 2017, according to Document Journal, and has connected with thousands of people thanks to its spread across social media and the Internet.

The movement distorts the reminiscent aesthetics of the 1980s and 1990s to create a sense of melancholy. Featuring neon-lit images of nostalgic items and scenes from those decades, a large amount of vaporwave artwork is designed more like posters. Meanwhile, vaporwave music incorporates trash culture motifs like infomercials paired with sonic sounds, and accompanying music videos showcase neon-heavy, art-like imagery.

Despite the growing popularity of vaporwave, artists and musicians who belong to the movement are largely anonymous. They do gather in person, but it’s a rare occurrence given the genre’s association with anonymity.