TikTok as modern art museum

For human ingenuity and the visual arts.

Whenever I tell people I love TikTok, they cringe. They think of TikTok as a juvenile Gen Z app algorithmically designed to make us stupider. But the truth is that TikTok has immersed me in a world of visual artists I didn’t previously have access to, and they are filling me with wonder.

As someone who spends a lot of time in the written arts, absorbed in texts by Plato and Erasmus and Montaigne, nothing is more refreshing than switching gears to the visual arts—to Broadway singers, Cirque du Soleil performers, and classical musicians who expand my mind and awaken me to human ingenuity.

The key is curation. When I first got on TikTok, my “for you” tab was filled with random things and, if I accidentally lingered too long on a plane crash, for example, I would see more things like that. But now that I have meticulously curated who I follow on TikTok, I can sit in my “following” tab and see only those I subscribe to. And now that TikTok has gotten to know the things I watch, it curates more things like that into my “for you” tab too.

I now have a TikTok feed that is a perfectly curated personal museum of human ingenuity. I’d love to introduce you to some of my favorites in case you’re interested in curating your own TikTok museum too!

First, I love following @elladjbalde who skates on wild ice. How beautiful is this?

@elladjbaldeFLOATING #wildiceadventure #frozenlake #figureskatingtiktok Videography @Kate Ilee

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I’m also obsessed with @kuczynska.maja who dances while skydiving.

@kuczynska.majaPink skies and blue clouds with @Mairis Laiva

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She does it inside too.

@kuczynska.majaHere’s one of the training versions of my routine for this years 4th year anniversary of Clymb. The goal for this routine was to make it as cool for the general public as possible. So lots of pretty spins and pop ups! It was cool to work on a routine like this for once. No focus on difficulty just trying to give the most fairy graceful floating ballerina vibes possible 😄❤️ 📸- @Mairis Laiva

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It’s fun to watch technologists like @richardmbrowning experiment with jet packs.

@richardmbrowning@Museum of the Future 😎

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Even sports can be a performance. Like the incredible boatmen in the Philippines.

@lijinjkswsvI really admire the wisdom of the boatman.#The original ship can also play like this.

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I love finding artists I would never have found otherwise, like the doodler @mrdoodleofficial who doodled his entire house.

@mrdoodleofficialTour of The Doodle House

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One of my favorite accounts is @peter.pan810 who practices traditional Chinese handcrafts against epic scenery. I was mesmerized watching him make silk by hand:

@peter.pan8105000 years ago, the Chinese learned to make quilts from the silk of the silkworm, which are breathable, light, and cozy.#culture #handcraft #handwork #fyp #foryou #ancient #china #chineseculture

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And making perfume.

@peter.pan8102000 years ago, the Chinese learned to make perfume. Do you know how?#culture #handcraft #handwork #fyp #foryou #ancient #chineseculture #china

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I also love watching @ifreadingflagship make teapots.

@ifreadingflagshipDo not forget the original intention and create the purest works#紫砂壺 #紫砂壶 #紫砂茶壺 #茶 #推薦 #purpleclayteapot #teapot #茶壺 #手藝人

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The app has introduced me to so many incredible artists, like @maise_matilda who paints book pages.

@maisie_matilda“I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.” #lordoftherings #foreedgepainting #lotr #tolkientok #rivendell #aragorn #thelordoftherings #jrrtolkien #fellowship #arwen #evenstar #hobbit #elf #baggins #legolas #gandalf #booktok #fantasytok #tolkien #gondor #middleearth

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And I love @thesewloartist who sews historical outfits.

@thesewloartist @thesewloartist ♬ Bundle of Joy (From "Inside Out") - Benny Martin

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Another dressmaker, @fearlessfallon, even re-created Taylor Swift’s film debut dress!

@fearlessfallonReplying to @JillWillCutYou Made this in 6 days like a crazy person 🥰

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It’s not just handcrafts. I love digital artists like @iam_zlu who take graphic art to the next dimension.

@iam_zluI am a Bio Alien now 🌱👽😅 #hologram #bio #zlu #plant #architecture #paris #virtualinfluencer #3dbillboard #pourtoipage

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And behind-the-scenes videos from the film industry! It is incredible how motion artists bring sets to life!

@nuffatherThe magic of green screen 🤩#fypシ #fyp #film #movie #behindthescenes

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I mean, did we even need actors to make Avatar? How incredible is this creative team?

@oili95Before and after video editing | With motion capture

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And did you know the alien from Asteroid City was a puppet performing in stop-motion? It took them three months to make it!

@180studiosThe Asteroid City Alien is actually a puppet which took an eight-people crew three months to make! But he appeared in the movie for no more than 1 minute. Only when you come to the exhibition at 180 to see it in flesh, you will find all the fascinating details and appreciate the craftsmanship of the puppet makers and animators. Don't miss your chance to visit the alien before we close on July 30. 👽🛸 #asteroidcity #asteroidcityexhibition #wesanderson #180studios #180thestrand #londonexhibition

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Most of the Wes Anderson sets are actually miniatures designed and handbuilt by Simon Weisse. I’ve loved watching how he creates them.

@voxCheck out these behind the scenes photos of the miniatures used in Asteroid City (photos courtesy Simon Weisse / Focus Features). Head to our YouTube channel for the full video if you're interested in learning more. #asteroidcity #wesanderson #moviemaking #vox #learnontiktok

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And yes, I do love singers. It’s how I get my Broadway fix between shows.

@broadwayworldGet a first look at @Jordan Fisher in @Hadestown! Watch more at the link in our bio.

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And dancers! This performance about the shadow self is incredible.

@globaldancesupremeHow amazing are these dancers from a Dance program - Revolution in Quebec , Canada - they SMASHED it 🔥@Balance

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I also have an obsession with the performance artist @yoann_bourgeois. This piece called “Life” is incredible.

@the_goodfilmsArtist: Yoann Bourgeois

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And when I’m in the mood for irreverent humor, I love @adrianbliss. This video sums up exactly how I feel at every dinner party.

@adrianblissChiming in at Aristotle's Dinner Party #comedy #philosophy

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I spend a lot of time reading about the ancients and how they think, but I’m glad there’s also a place to watch the modern artists as they create! But I’m curious: what other incredible accounts do you follow?

Who inspires you on TikTok? Link them in the comments!

Thanks so much for reading, and watching!

Elle Griffin