GT23 - Yara Kamali & Mohamed Rezk - Set Opps

A collection of artifacts, thoughts, Ideas, research, Images, sketches, notes, diagrams, and project treatments for a graduate thesis in Architecture.

Curated by Yara Kamali and Mo Rezk in the Summer of 2023 at the Southern California Institute of Architecture.

Arts District, Los Angeles California

34.0419° N, 118.2326° W

Thesis Advisor: Zeina Koreitem

History + Theory Advisor: Marcelyn Gow

Kamali + Rezk

INDEX

What the F*** is a Set Opps ???

How is This Architecture ???

Glossary

What is The Protagonist In Your Story ???

Articles + Notes

First Look Graphic Design

First Look Installation

Post First Look Notes

State of Install

Film + Installation Treatment

Character Explorations

Film Assets

Film Scenes Break Down

Installation Sculpture Process

What the f*** is a set opps ???

Set opps is an immersive odyssey meticulously curated with the depth of multifaceted themes of Hybrid identity, Cultural Fusion, Extraction, and Displacement.

It is set against the vibrant cultural tapestry of SouthWest Asia and North Africa. Each facet of this installation symbolically bridges storytelling through digital animations with sculptures made from upcycled material and found objects.

Within this immersive environment, three distinct protagonists emerge, each representing a unique narrative thread: one steeped in historical context, another entwined with contemporary dynamics, and the third deeply rooted in lived experiences.

These narratives artfully intertwine, weaving a vivid notion that envisions alternative futures and spaces within the very framework of the built environment.

Kamali + Rezk

How is this Archi tecture ???

We are interested in exploring and building ephemeral sets as a way to study, narrate and story tell.

Can architects use set design and animations to narrate, study, and highlight issues of space, narrative, and geopolitics.

Glossary

Transportation, Extraction, Assembly, Sculpture, Consumerism, Materiality, Found Objects, Iconography, Displacement, Influences, Rebellion, Mixed Media, Sound Scape, Environment, Context, Re-Contextualize, Curation, Immersive, Subliminal, Message, Emotion, Confusion, Rhetoric, Territory, Appropriation, Surveillance, Promotional, Transaction, Conspiracy, Transformation, Platform, Identity, Economy, Knockoff, Forage, Diaspora, Parallax, Ambiguous, Kitsch

What is the protagonist in your story ???

Displaced Camels in the US Army, Anime Origins in the Middle East, Propaganda, and Identity Crisis

Notes on Anime Origins in the Middle East

In the 1980s and 1990s, several Arabic television networks, such as Saudi TV Wand MBC, began airing popular Japanese anime series dubbed in Arabic. These shows gained a significant following among children and young adults in the Middle East, including countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates.

Over time, the popularity of anime in the Middle East grew, and the range of available anime expanded. As technology advanced, fans gained access to a broader selection of anime series and films through video rentals, satellite television, and, more recently, streaming services. This increased accessibility allowed Middle Eastern audiences to explore a wider variety of anime genres and titles.

Notes on Anime as a tool for propaganda

“The Journey,” a Saudi-Japanese anime film collaboration: In 2019, Saudi Arabia’s Manga Productions collaborated with Japan’s Toei Animation to produce the animated film “The Journey.” The film aimed to promote Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and showcase its landmarks and history through an engaging storyline.

Still from Sindbad’s Adventures

Notes on Identity crisis due to displacement

Palestinian displacement: The IsraeliPalestinian conflict has resulted in the displacement of millions of Palestinians, both within the region and in the diaspora. The displacement began with the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 and continued during subsequent conflicts.

Syrian displacement: The ongoing civil war in Syria, which began in 2011, has led to a significant displacement of Syrians within the country and to neighboring countries. Millions of Syrians have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the conflict.

Iraqi displacement: Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent sectarian violence and instability, many Iraqis have been displaced both within the country and as refugees in other countries.

Yemeni displacement: The ongoing conflict in Yemen, which escalated in 2015, has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis and displacement. Millions of Yemenis have been displaced within Yemen or have sought refuge in neighboring countries.

And as of late, Lebanese displacement: Due to the ongoing economic and infrastructural collapse. Also previous significant displacement includes the Lebanese Civil War.

Graphic design Propaganda as a tool during the Lebanese civil war

“Off The Wall”, Zeina Maasri

The author initially discovered a collection of political posters from the 1960s to the 1980s at the American University of Beirut. Intrigued by the visual representation of Lebanon’s warring factions, they began researching the political discourses conveyed through these posters. The author also sought to understand the motivations and aesthetics behind the creation of these posters by locating and interviewing their authors.

The author expresses dissatisfaction with the concept of propaganda posters typically studied in the context of state warfare or post-revolution nation-building. They argue that Lebanon’s wartime posters require a different conceptualization due to the unique nature of the civil war. The author aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of political posters within the context of the Lebanese civil war through their book.

First Look

Graphic Design

First Look

Installation

Post first look Notes

Strategies Moving Forward:

-Create 3 main “protagonist”, the installation will center these inanimate objects and use them as a way to story tell.

Example: (Rock, Hookah, + Gas Canister)

(The Objects should ode to specific settings, narratives, and unique lived experiences of growing up in the East + West).

1 example of this could be the idea of A McDonald in the middle eastern regions often gets appropriated and de-contextualized into a hookah lounge. (A motif important to the lived experience of the MENA region). The Protagonist will stem from one of these unique lived experiences.

Each of the 3 OBJs should represent a larger over arching geopolitical issue for discussing these hyper specific motifs. (For example, Gas Canister representing Extraction of MENA resources, depleting our lands, etc.) The Overarching theme should have some relation to the architectural discourse, Either the way we think, view, work, or talk about architecture. (Think OMAs Countryside Exhibition + Book, not a architectural building but heavily influential to the architectural discourse.

These objects can begin to be fused with each other or other OBJs, (Narrative permitting), in digital modeling software’s like Z Brush to create new objects and forms. This will then be translated into the physical realm to accompany the installation. (Basically sculptures of kit bashed items)

State Of Install

Athens Biennial 2021: ECLIPSE

“Feral

Meta-verse”, Theo Triantafyllidis

“Ork Hause”, Theo Triantafyllidis

“Xenon Palace: Crystal Zastruga”, Sara Sadik

“Xenon Palace: Crystal Zastruga”, Sara Sadik

Film +

Installation

Narrative

Diagrams

MARKET

Critique on the wests views and understanding of consumerist / materialistic culture that dominates perception of Gulf regions in the middle east.

Gulf regions rich culture, identity, religion, and land being wiped out / fused into this materialistic futurism fueled by expat dollars

DRIVE IN CINEMA

Scene used as a tool for story telling the narrative rather than direct relation to discourse approach.

Fits in w Entertainment Approach to the scenes.

DESERT RAVE

Critique on MENA regions approach to entertainment. Festivals like Middle Beast in Saudi Arabia are introducing western cultural spatial typologies like raves for the first time in the modern countries history.

What does the introduction of western typologies of entertainment do to the MENA culture, people, etc.

Character Explora tions

Film Assets

Film Scenes

Outdoor Market

Critique on the wests views and understanding of consumerist / materialistic culture that dominates perceptions of Gulf regions in the Middle East.

Gulf regions rich culture, Identity, religion, and land being wiped out / fused Into this materialistic futurism fueled by expat dollars.

Desert Rave

Exploration of MENA regions approach to entertainment, post Arab spring, festivals like “Middle Beast” in Saudi Arabia are introducing western spatial typologies like raves for the first time in the modern countries history.

What does the introduction of western typologies of entertainment do to the MENA culture, people, etc.

Drive In Cinema

Further exploration of entertainment typological approach to the scenes.

Scene used as a tool for story telling the narrative rather than direct relation to discourse approach.

INSTALLATION SCULPTURE ARCHIVE

THESIS JOURNAL

A collection of artifacts, thoughts, Ideas, research articles, Images, sketches, notes, diagrams, and project treatments for a graduate thesis in Architecture.

Curated by Yara Kamali and Mo Rezk in the Summer of 2023 at the Southern California Institute of Architecture.

Arts District, Los Angeles California

34.0419° N, 118.2326° W

Thesis Advisor: Zeina Koreitem

History + Theory Advisor: Marcelyn Gow