Rä di Martino's 'Kodrok' Explores Gaming Rooms in Lebanese Refugee Camps

Rä di Martino (Rome, 1975) presents 'Kodrok' at Galleria Valentina Bonomo in Rome, showcasing the first results of a two-year research project in refugee camps in Lebanon. The project, which will culminate in her first narrative film, documents the social value of gaming rooms in Palestinian and Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon. These 24-hour gaming rooms serve as crucial spaces for meeting and resistance, offering physical and mental refuge from daily violence. Through videogames, young people interact safely in a neutral space where identities can emerge. Di Martino uses three complex video game software to create photographic and video works that blend photorealism with reworked imagery, exploring memory, perception, and new media. The exhibition challenges Western stereotypes that demonize videogames, presenting them as opportunities for connection and escape in different social contexts. The show runs at Galleria Valentina Bonomo in Rome.