If I were Google… 5 days ago: a real kiss goodbye!

If I were Google… 5 days ago I would have certainly published this:

Muntather Al Zaidi kissing George Bush goodbye

On May 15, 1979 Muntather Al Zaidi was born in Baghdad, Iraq… His real birthday is on December 14, 2008 when he threw his shoes at George Bush shouting: “This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog”. To know more about him, or even to remember who Bush was, google it!

ولد منتظر الزيدي في بغداد العراق في 15 آيار 1979 ولكن ولادته الحقيقية فهي في 14 كانون الأول 2008 حيث رمى حذاءه في وجه جورج بوش قائلا: هذه قبلة الوداع من الشعب العراقي أيها الكلب. لمعرفة المزيد عنه أو لمحاولة تذكر من هو بوش البحث في موقع غوغل

Muntazer, I need some pairs of your shoes… I need them to be thrown at some “dogs” in the country… These same dogs you shouted on, they are still here messing up with our country. It is either them or their representatives… But I really need to kiss them goodbye, your way! Thank you and Happy Birthday

This mirror… does it work?

I’ve been into two different exhibitions in one night – I know this is not healthy, but I guess that eating healthy or even living healthy was always easier and more feasible, for me at least, than “ARTing” healthy (approaching Art in a healthy way). For the coincidence, or not, both exhibitions have a mirror as one of their artworks.

The first one is for the young Lebanese photo-artist, Anwar Azzi, who has just moved his exhibition “clouded mirror” to Lebanon, after he displayed his photographs in other European countries. The second one is for the famous German artist, Gerhard Richter, who is being exhibited in Beirut for the first time (I guess). His artworks are mostly over-painted photographs… Also for the coincidence, or not.

Important note #1: the order of the artists follows the chronology of my visits.

Important note #2: the 2 artists and exhibitions are mentioned in the text without any link as this post doesn’t intend to promote neither the artists nor the exhibitions; all art lovers won’t need any guidance to find these exhibitions.

Important note #3: this post is an impression and not a critique

 

As I was regarding the mirror of the second exhibition I’ve been through, I only remembered the first one. I asked myself: why that 1st mirror looked like that? It was me in Richter’s mirror, standing on the left side, having other of his artworks in the background and in my mind, I had Azzi’s mirror. It was a weird parallelism of the two exhibitions. Why they both had mirrors? Why the second mirror looked so full? Why I am remembering the 1st mirror as I barely stood in front of it? How I took its image with me and was able to read it only when I was looking at another mirror?

Having all these thoughts in mind, made me wonder: how mirrors work? Do they know that we are looking at them but only seeing us? Do they know that we can never recognize ourselves in a mirror if we were never told that it was us? If we were never told that it was us what they could show us? Are they made only to reflect? Do they have spirits? If they do, do their spirits lie to us? And do they know that photographs are a pretending form of them?…

So after I saw me in different mirrors – reflections, I left with an impression and I just wanted to ask someone: this mirror… does it work?

 

Capture by Anita Toutikian (Mar 2012) – edit by me

If I were Google… “ila Assi”

If I were Google… I would have certainly dedicated this Doodle “to Assi”

Assi Rahbani – May 4 1923 / June 21 1986

On May 4 1923, Assi Rahbani was born in Lebanon. He is a great contributor in the Lebanese musical theater. To know more about him, google it!

ولد عاصي الرحباني في الرابع من أيار عام 1923. هو واحد من أهم المساهمين في تأسيس المسرح الغنائي في لبنان. لمعرفة المزيد عنه، البحث في موقع غوغل

here’s one of the greatest songs that was written and composed by Assi Rahbani, performed by Fayrouz (this video is from a live performance in 2012 – not by Fayrouz)

“If I were Google”

It all started spontaneously one year ago with the 1st “If I were Google” post that was titled by “If I were Google… Yesterday!”.

Today, while celebrating the 1st anniversary of these posts, Rougeatre contains 29 different “If I were Google”s. All these posts were published for a clear aim: giving some credits and remembering people from the region who simply deserve that… according to me.

During this year, “If I were Google” became an important part of my daily life… I was gradually taken by the idea, always trying to find new interesting people to talk about and to bring up their stories to your mind.

I doodled about artists, writers, photographers, actors, directors, scientists, poets, activists and influencers from different countries of our region.

Sometimes, the posts were successful and sometimes not. Some people liked them while others did not. In all cases, the concept wasn’t intended to provoke anyone, not even Google itself – of course I am not saying that it didn’t provoke some people after all – but the whole idea was challenging me, personally!

I was enjoying every single post I published although I had some obstacles; for example, the exact dates of birth and death are not always known or at least confirmed for most of the personalities I doodled. (It certainly applies to the post about May Ziade that was later on Doodled by Google).

Still, I am proud I kept up with these posts for a whole year, and I am proud I doodled about great people like: Ghassan Kanafani (first post), Zaki Nassif (twice), May Ziade (before Google did), Ziad Rahbani (the great influencer)… and many more

Now I am hoping to doodle more and of course I would love to keep on getting your feedback and suggestions. A BIG “Thank you” goes to all the supporters, suggesters, contributors, viewers and visitors; it couldn’t have been so much fun without you!

So if I were Google on April 10 2012… I would have certainly published this:

April 10, 2011 - April 10, 2012

Thank you and see you next post!

Areej

If I were Google… I wouldn’t fool you today!

If I were Google… I wouldn’t fool you today and I would have certainly published this:

Julia Boutros - April 1, 1968

On April 1 1968, Julia Boutros was born. She is a true Lebanese artist… If you wanna know more about her, Google it!

ولدت جوليا بطرس في الأول من نيسان 1968. انها فنانة لبنانية حقيقية. لمعرفة المزيد عنها البحث في موقع غوغل

Here’s one of my favorites songs of her’s: