GILLES KHOURY

 

GILLES KHOURY wearing the Gio gilet no.002. He is a writer and journalist living in Beirut, Lebanon.

What does progression mean to you?
Not to worry about the notion of ‘normality’ anymore.

What is most difficult to find in contemporary culture?
Some silence.

What is most exciting in contemporary culture?
The anger everywhere.

What thoughts currently occupy you?
What I’m going to have for my next meal. That’s because I want to distract myself from what is really worrying me: the future of my country Lebanon.

What should we be reading?
A book: Dans ma chambre by Guillaume Dustan (1996). A poem: En Montagne Libanaise by Nadia Tueni (1979). An Op-Ed: Désormais on se lève et on se barre by Virginie Despentes, published in the french daily newspaper Libération on the 1st of March 2020 (I want to tattoo every word of it on my forehead.)

Can you share some daily habits or rituals?
A sacred morning ritual: I have my Bulletproof coffee while 3elke, my cat, sips on some cold water in her yellow plate. I also wash my hands a zillion times a day, and that’s way before COVID.

What do you treasure most in your neighborhood or city?
The light in April and October, when the city looks dipped in gold.

What is good design?
My cat’s coat.

Do you have a mantra during this time?
Brace yourself, embrace the collapse.

What is your favorite word?
Hayété. It means ‘you are my life’ in Lebanese arabic.

What do you wish to learn?
To be realistic and reasonable.

Where is happiness found?
In a giant bowl of taboulé.

What is outside your window?
A country giving birth to another one.

What is dear to your heart?
My nine hours of sleep.

What music or sound makes you nostalgic?
The creaking of a rusty swing on a mountain balcony, preferably in Lebanon. Fairuz singing Kifak Inta.

Who is an inspirational figure?
Each and every rebel carrying the Lebanese revolution on his/her shoulders since October 17th.

What is a powerful slogan?
Kellon Yaane Kellon (Everyone means everyone). It’s the main slogan of the Lebanese revolution that wants to take down the (whole) corrupt political mafia that has been ruling the country for the past 30 years, and shamelessly stealing our money.

What are you working on at the moment?
Apart from my writings for L’Orient-Le Jour, I’m working on a magazine out of Beirut. It’s supposed to launch as soon as this madness is behind us.

Any last words?
Do I get a Leorosa cardigan for replying to this questionnaire?