Harmony Amidst Chaos
The theme of this exhibition, Well-tangled, explores the process of skillully combining diverse elements (entanglements) to create a state of harmony amidst chaotic relations. This theme transcends a human-centric perspective, listening to the inner voices of matter and unpredictable elements, and seeks to discover a balanced state where different beings coexist.
Here, the meaning of “Well” is a very important question: What state does it refer to? Instead of aiming for a single ultimate state, this theme aims to gain new insights and perspectives through promoting interactions between humans and technology, merging the realms of the natural and the digital, and facilitating interactions between material and immaterial elements.
This exhibition features various media and materials such as water, plants, microorganisms, and threads. These works blur the boundaries between the digital and physical worlds, giving concrete shape to the concept of Well-tangled, and providing the audience with unexpected experiences and profound insights. Through these prototypes, art pieces and discussions, we aim to foster a vibrant space for new technologies, design, and media art discussions and ideas.
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Braided Crawlies
Yumi Nishihara (JP), Yasuaki Kakehi (JP)
Braided Crawlies is a kinetic installation in which a colony of braids curve, bend, compress, and stretch. For each kumihimo (Japanese traditional braid), a strand that controls the change of shape is interwoven in different patterns, enabling each variant to form unique shapes when the strand is pulled.
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Efficiency of Mutualism
Dorita Takido (JP)
This work combines various power generation mechanisms: fuel cells that utilize microorganisms coexisting with plants, algae fuel cells using photosynthesis, and fuel cells employing water electrolysis. Plant growth is enhanced by electrical stimulation, as the weak electricity generated by each fuel cell is returned to the plants.
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Signs of Water—Mirror
Kuan-Ju Wu (TW/USA), Ekaterina Kormilitsyna (AT), Yasuaki Kakehi (JP)
Signs of Water – Mirror explores water as a medium to reflect environmental meaning. An array of water plates, each with a mechanism to move floating objects, starts empty but gradually fills with serendipitously found artifacts from the venue.
Yasuaki Kakehi Lab, The University of Tokyo (JP)
Yasuaki Kakehi Lab at the University of Tokyo is an interdisciplinary research group led by Yasuaki Kakehi, a media artist, researcher and professor. The lab focuses on exploring the potential of physical materials, phenomena and computing to develop novel HCI techniques, artistic expressions and new engagements with environments. The lab has received prestigious awards, including the STARTS PRIZE 2022 and the 23rd Japan Media Arts Festival prize.
Credits
Exhibition Director: Yasuaki Kakehi
Artists: Signs of Water—Mirror: Kuan-Ju Wu, Ekaterina Kormilitsyna, Yasuaki Kakehi; Braided Crawlies: Yumi Nishihara, Yasuaki Kakehi; Efficiency of Mutualism: Dorita Takido
Supported by: Yasuaki Kakehi Lab., The University of Tokyo
Special Thanks: Iori Ito, Tsuneo Mizuno, Tomofuni Yoshida, NISOUL Co.,Ltd, Yumi Sasaki
Signs of Water – Mirror: supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Number 24H00708) / Braided Crawlies: supported by ZOZO NEXT, Inc. / Efficiency of Mutualism: supported by supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Number 20H05960)