RobertFaridKarimi is a wildly creative human who designs games and interactive performances. He returns to Shangri La in May for his Residency.

What is your favorite food? Why?

Tahdig. It’s crispy, it’s yummy, and it’s a gift that is made from “Burning” the rice. It’s Persian ingenuity at its finest.

What is your first memory of video games?

Playing King’s Quest on a computer called an IBM PC Junior. The game had floppy disks, and I was so excited by the storytelling and the choose your own adventure. It was the first time I really got into a game that I didn’t want to stop playing. It made me want to make my own games because I saw it as a new way of storytelling. Also, let’s not lie, I was really into Risk on the Apple II.

What is your most recent memory of a game or video game?

I love Splendor. It’s a boardgame that really gets you to think about economics but it’s not really about economics. It’s this game that I can’t stop playing with my partner because we get all silent when we play it and have so much fun just trying to out strategize each other. It’s an example of how playing games can be an act of love.

What are you most excited for as part of your Residency at Shangri La? 

Seeing how art can activate the playful spirit in people. Fun as social change is something central to my practice, so the idea of even putting the intention of making Shangri La a place for playfulness in the air excites me. I want to see it manifest! The anticipation, and the amount of good energy made by all the collaborators and Shangri La staff makes me even more excited.

If you could be any animal what would you be? 

Capybara!

Learn more about Robert Farid Karimi’s residency here.