Tokyo Tonight

In “Tokyo Tonight,” a group of farmers is shown tending to their sheep in the desolate, depopulated meadows of the countryside. As the men approach the camera, transitioning from their routine to a brief moment of recognition—perhaps even fleeting fame—each one unexpectedly utters the word, ‘Tokyo.’ This absurd statement, instructed by the artist, is striking in its irony, as Tokyo is nowhere in sight. The landscape evokes the dry rural plateaus of the Southeast Mediterranean, worlds apart from the chaotic, high-energy pace of Tokyo.

While the viewer may laugh, the joke is private, shared only between the artist and the farmers, creating a sense of isolation for the audience. The shift in the men’s roles—from passive subjects to active participants—complicates the viewer’s perception of the situation, blurring the lines between documentary and performance. The repetition of the word ‘Tokyo’ serves not as a yearning for the city but as a hollow, disconnected phrase—infinitely repeated, full of associations yet empty and distant.

Year Created: 2004
Country: Lebanon (Bekaa Valley)
Medium: Video
Duration: 3 min