By Eric Harris
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| Giant Robot Biennale 5 exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, California, captured on June 27, 2024. The exhibition runs from March 2, 2024 to January 5, 2025. All pictures by Eric Harris/TTDILA. |
At the dawn of the 21st century, Giant Robot emerged as a beacon of Southern California and Asian American pop culture. This publication, which began as a modest zine (a small-circulation, self-published, often photocopied pamphlet or magazine) in 1996, swiftly grew into a globally recognized magazine, carving out a unique niche in the then obscure area of Asian and Asian-American pop culture. Despite ceasing publication in 2011, Giant Robot's cultural impact endures, with co-founder Eric Nakamura steering its legacy forward in the Asian American pop culture realm. Giant Robot Biennale 5, showcased from March 2, 2024 to January 5, 2025, at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), marks the latest installment in this biennale series.
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| Installation view of Giant Robot Biennale 5 at the Japanese American National Museum, featuring contemporary Asian American artworks. |
Curated by Nakamura, this exhibition presents a compelling array of artists, including Sean Chao, Felicia Chiao, Luke Chueh, Giorgiko (Darren and Trisha Inouye), James Jean, Taylor Lee, Mike Shinoda, Rain Szeto, and Yoskay Yamamoto. The works span an eclectic mix of mediums—ranging from expansive paintings and intricate markers to mixed media, dynamic sculptures, and vibrant watercolors. The exhibition also pays homage to the magazine's history with a special gallery dedicated to Giant Robot memorabilia. Notably, there is a curious lack of vinyl figurines in this show, which is surprising given that vinyl figures have been synonymous with the Giant Robot brand since its inception.
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| Installation view of Yoskay Yamamoto’s “Moonage Daydream”, “12 Portraits”, and “Sunset Chasers and Midnight Bandits” at the Giant Robot Biennale 5, Japanese American National Museum. |
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| Installation view of Giant Robot Biennale 5 at the Japanese American National Museum, featuring contemporary Asian American artworks. |
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| Installation view of Giant Robot memorabilia at the Giant Robot Biennale 5 at the Japanese American National Museum. |
Among the standout pieces are James Jean's sculptures, Rain Szeto's watercolors (a rare sight to see cyberpunk rendered in watercolor), Taylor Lee's ceramic figures inspired by vintage Japanese sci-fi, Yoskay Yamamoto's trio of paper mâché works, and Sean Chao's mixed media pieces, each adding a unique dimension of fun to the exhibition.
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| James Jean, “Slingshot Aurum” (2020), Bronze and Platinum Leaf |
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| Rain Szeto, “Taxipunk” (2024), Ink and Watercolor |
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| Taylor Lee, “Astroboy” (2023), “Survivor” (2022), “Triple Threat” (2022), and “Mega Gundham” (2022), Ceramic Stoneware |
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| Taylor Lee, “Mazinger” (2022), Ceramic Stoneware |
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| Sean Chao, “Whisper” (2023), “Sanctuary” (2023), “Neon Guppies” (2023), “Angels and Baby Halibut” (2023), Mixed Media |
Things To Do In LA has chronicled the Giant Robot Biennale since 2012. Although termed a "biennale," the series has enjoyed a flexible schedule, with the last exhibition opening in 2015. For a retrospective, explore our coverage of Giant Robot Biennale 3 and Giant Robot Biennale 4.
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| Felicia Chiao, “Giant Robot Cover”, Copic Marker and Ink |
LOCATION
100 North Central Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90012
CONTACT
(213) 625-0414
[email protected]
MUSEUM HOURS
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday-Sunday 11am–5pm
Thursday 12pm-8pm
GENERAL ADMISSION
Senior $9
Student $9
Youth (6-17) $9
Child (5 and under) $0
General admission is free every third Thursday of the month. All other Thursdays are free from 5pm to 8pm.
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| Exterior view of the Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles, California. |
