Uploaded on May 4th, 2019, Sonia Tiebi shared a drawing her daughter made of her. Thus, the meme “hyperpigmentation” was born. The video has now skyrocketed to popularity across multiple social media platforms, marking the start of a new trend. Today, thousands of videos mimicking the meme have been uploaded, bringing different communities together through laughter. Besides the popularity of this drawing, hundreds of accounts online gather and share the joy of the light-hearted clip. But is this just another trend, or possibly something deeper–a whole new collaboration that brings people together?
“Hyperpigmentation” is a video in which a young girl seems nervous about showing the drawing she made of her mother to her parents. The mother, who is filming, tries her best to support and encourage her daughter. While little children sketch their family members all the time, this drawing seemed to stand out. The drawing is the mom’s side profile with a high ponytail; the most noticeable characteristic is a huge colored circle on the cheek for blush. In the clip, both parents are seen losing their composure and trying to reassure their daughter that her drawing looks “fantastic.” This video started to gain traction as a funny drawing, allowing other art influencers to create their unique spin on the infamous sketch. Some accounts have taken it a step further, using the mother’s hyperpigmented portrait as a template to draw characters from different fandoms. These include TV shows, K-pop groups, anime, video games, and other areas of interest. What once was a funny video has now sprouted into connections between multiple different communities–unraveling the larger influence on viewers. Today, the drawing can be seen on whiteboards of classrooms, sketchbooks of students, and even on walls of public spaces. CHS Freshman Clara Ranger shared her reaction.
“It definitely has a lot of influence everywhere,” Ranger said. “I think of my friends when I hear about it because they say it a lot. It is a funny video that people enjoy.”
While many social media platforms have blown up the popularity of the drawing, a new side has been added to the trend. Besides the sketch, the dialogue from the video also became popular. Different users have taken the time to recreate the phrases used in the clip. One specific section of videos has stood out. Accounts like @tyuyuverse have recreated the original in a different language, making the meme international. These versions include Chinese, Korean, Russian, Norwegian, Spanish, and many more languages. Outside the quirky demeanor of these new videos, the trend has demonstrated the inclusion of countries all around the globe. Together, many users have stepped out and made their own versions of the trend. What was once a brief interaction is now a global sensation for millions of users. CHS Freshman Andrew Luschei shared his experience.
“When I see ‘hyperpigmentation,’ I think of something amazing,” Luschei said. “I think it’s really cool how so many people across the globe are able to come together over one child’s drawing. I feel there’s a lot of division in our world, but seeing such a connection is inspiring to me.”
The clip has become more than a funny video–it shows how trends can create a cultural collaboration. “Hyperpigmentation” not only shows the small joys in life, but the creative measures that evolve from the minds of unique perspectives. It truly is “FANTASTIC!”
