West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal

Meriem Bennani is a writer of contemporary narratives, known for transforming oral histories into multidimensional viewing experiences that combine documentary film, digital technologies, sculpture, and sound. Through storylines rooted in pop culture, science fiction, and magical realism, her installations address complex social issues such as education, immigration, political soft power, and the remapping of global cultural centers. Bennani’s own voice often makes an appearance in the form of animated animal avatars—a lizard, a fly, or a donkey—who guide us through her fantastical worlds. Humor plays a central role, and keeps us alert. With laughter, Bennani shakes us free from any analytical paralysis we experience caused by cynicism and conflict.

Sleepy (2021) is Bennani’s first interactive animation, with programming by Laguna Labs, presented on a video wall made from monitors similar to those used throughout this terminal for displaying flight departure and arrival information. On these screens is a never-ending office landscape where a gaggle of crocodiles of diverse shapes, sizes, and colors are all passed out snoozing across their desks and chairs. This fantasy dimension has a direct link to the airport’s public announcement (PA) system. And while these office workers may appear to be sleeping on the job, they are  instinctively aware of their surroundings. Every announcement awakens the crocodiles from their slumber. They rise to a standing position, and deliver the important information provided by the terminal broadcasts. By calling attention to both the architectural and sonic details of the airport that often go unnoticed, Bennani hopes to awaken airport travelers from our own hurried trances through the terminal—reconnecting us with our environment, our present moment, and quite possibly, each other.