Omar Khouri
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Research Residency Program
update: 2019.11.7
Omar Khouri
| Participating Project | Research Residency Program |
|---|---|
| Activity Based | Lebanon |
| Period | 2012.2 - 2012.2 |
Purpose of the residency
Between 1975 and 1991, Lebanon witnessed a gruesome civil war. An extremely complex war for the tiny country, it included about 10 different opposing sides, each with its own ideals and "infallible" leader. Confused and frustrated by this multiplicity of patriarchal figures, a whole generation of children, including myself, grew up with no choice but to cling to an animated surrogate that always defended the side of "good" against the attacks of the invading "evil". Consequently, the name "Grendizer" is very much household to a generation of Lebanese adults born in the 1970's and early 80's. In Tokyo, I wish to pursue the connection between the birth of the "Giant robot" genre and the effects of World War II on the Japanese psyche, in order to compare it, in the end, with its counterpart from Lebanon.
Plan during the residency
During my residency period at Tokyo Wonder Site, I wish to research the birth of the "giant robo" and "mecha" concepts and their relation to the outcome of World War II, as well as their impact on the post war generation in Japan. At the same time, I wish to research the design and content of Japanese propaganda posters during WWII. As a result of this research, I wish to create a composite portrait of Grendizer that compares his Lebanese and Japanese socio-political interpretations.
