The Elevator 2
The Elevator 2
By George Khoury
In Artworks
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Item details:
▸ Features: Limited Edition▸ Materials: Paper
▸ Art technique: Printmaking Digital Art
▸ Dimensions (cm): 47.0 x 33.0
▸ Net Weight (kg): 0.2
Limited Edition runs of 10. Printed with top quality Canon ink on 100% biodegradable/recyclable acid-free 300gr FSC certified environment-friendly Splendorgel Elemental Chlorine Free pulp devoid of heavy metals. Hand-numbered and signed.
George Khoury's work relates to a diverse range of themes. Akira is set in a war-torn Tokyo. The artist's colorizations emphasize the impact of war and crises on the city and its inhabitants. They capture moments where the characters often resist authority and oppressive government control. The post-apocalyptic setting serves as a reflection of environmental degradation and the need for sustainability in a world recovering from disaster.
The story involves the displacement of individuals and communities, reflecting themes of migration and displacement. The characters also challenge traditional gender roles, providing an opportunity for exploration of gender fluidity. The futuristic and urban landscape of Neo-Tokyo provides a rich backdrop to explore themes related to urban space and form.
Phat2's prints convey the impact of consumerism and its role in the dystopian society depicted in the source material - which intersects the themes of technological advancements and their impact on urban life, and the works reflect this dynamic.
The story of Akira prompts explorations of public memory and the process of urban renewal, especially within the context of a post-apocalyptic setting. Khoury brings out these themes through the visual storytelling of the colorized prints, adding layers of depth and interpretation to the original source material.
About George Khoury
Born in 1989 in Beirut, George Khoury, aka Phat2, is one of the significant figures of the Lebanese and Middle Eastern graffiti communities. Phat2 developed a passion for graphic arts at a young age and naturally turned to graffiti, quickly learning to handle the spray can with agility. Influenced by the works of American pioneers, he gradually defined his style, combining increasingly complex lettering with ever-vibrant colors.
Phat2 quickly appeared everywhere in Beirut: his pieces were easily identified, and he became one of Lebanon's most present graffiti artists within months, whose discipline experienced solid growth in the 2010s.
After a decade of prolific activities in the street where he left his colorful imprint on the Lebanese capital, Phat2 focused on a new chapter in his artistic career.
He took a step back by moving away from Beirut's bustle and settling in the heart of the Lebanese mountains, where he drew new inspiration and found the serenity necessary to create.
Phat2 continued his work on forms, abandoned colors for black and chrome, and further emphasized his graphic and technical research.
Focused on contrast, repetition, and movement, his work is dark, sometimes bleak, but always suggests hope through a halo of light, like an echo of the events that took place in Beirut, which strongly influenced his creation.
The Withdrawal Catharsis series, still in progress today, is the culmination of this work started in 2017, where Phat2 continues his journey towards abstraction, between shadow and light.
His most recent project is centered on digital colorizations of Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira’s original serialization in Young Magazine’s title pages from 1983 to 1990 and curated to include some reworked classics but mainly focused on those left uncolored by Steve Oliff after consolidating the initial 120 episodes into 38 chapters for the American version.
The reason for this endeavor is deeply personal to the artist. It stems from rooted childhood memories, their sudden re-emergence after the tragic Beirut port blast, and their eerie resemblance to the events of the historical manga.