Giant Robot’s Asian pop-culture magazine and gallery has hung on while a shakey economy, rise in costs and e-readership, and other challenges forced the demise of giants like Borders and manga publisher Tokyopop. Their hardship is no secret. In 2010, Giant Robot raised a donation campaign asking for their fans’ support. Now in 2011, the gallery hopes their “Robots” benefit exhibition will secure another year of business and return support to the artists they love. “We try and nurture artists so they can have their freedom. At times it works well. Our track record is powerful. But again, how does this get paid for?” asks owner Eric Nakamura.
Artists from Giant Robot’s history have rallied together a show of robots-inspired original work to help, such as Luke Chueh, Buff Monster, Yoskay Yamamoto, Junko Mizuno, Mari Inukai, Martin Hsu, Edwin Ushiro, and countless others. The goal is for the space to be self-sustaining as an art space in 2012 and on. Robots exhibits at Giant Robot’s GR2 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, from September 24 – October 12, 2011. – Caro
