Smokeinspired

Smokeinspired is an artistic and aesthetic movement that explores the visual, symbolic, and experiential aspects of smoke as a medium. It emerged in the late 20th century, influenced by urban graffiti culture, experimental photography, and the use of smoke machines in theater and club lighting. Artists and designers began to incorporate smoke generated by incense, vapor, or controlled combustion into their work, using it as a transient canvas that shifts color, texture, and form.

The movement emphasizes the impermanence of smoke, using its fluid, unpredictable shape to challenge static visual norms. Techniques range from projecting smoke onto architectural surfaces to capturing high-speed video of smoke patterns with LED lighting. In fashion, smoke-inspired motifs are adapted into fabrics through sublimation printing and dyeing techniques that replicate the swirling patterns of smoke. In graphic design, smoke is abstracted into gradients and opacity gradients, creating depth in digital artwork.

Smokeinspired has influenced several contemporary artists. The New York-based muralist known as SmokeD becomes aware of the legacy of graffiti as a temporary medium and integrates smoke as an overlay. In photography, the German duo Tempe has used smoke as a negative space to highlight subject forms. In video art, the Japanese filmmaker Mori has combined smoke with neon light to create ethereal narrative scenes.

The movement also intersects with the vaping and cannabis industries, where e-liquids and flavored cannabis products are marketed with a "smoke-inspired" aesthetic that highlights thematic visuals of vapor, ash, and cloud. Critics sometimes question the environmental impact of smoke production, while supporters argue that the movement encourages an appreciation of temporal beauty and liminal states. Overall, smokeinspired remains a dynamic, interdisciplinary approach that bridges visual arts, performance, and product design.