In recent years, a number of individual-identifying technologies and measures have been developed rapidly, and are now used in a variety of contexts in our day-to-day life, to prevent crimes and also to help us lead a more comfortable life. This, in turn, means that we are heading into a society where our identities, such as our fingerprints and veins, have their own wings, divorced from their original owners, i.e., ourselves.

The exhibition director, Masahiko Sato has translated the essence of complicated ideas to simple and intimate forms through new methods of expression. "Pitagora Switch" educational program on NHK and art piece "Arithmetik Garden" are some of those representative examples.

This exhibition will introduce new pieces, which leverage interactive devices and cutting-edge technologies, and existing pieces which reveal a theme "intrinsic attributes of ourselves." Through a number of hands-on exhibits, a blend of scientific technologies and art works by designers and artists both in Japan and overseas, the exhibition aims to create an opportunity for the visitors to identify their undeniable "self."

Individuality and identity are something that you take for granted in designs and making things. The exhibition will search for a new perspective on what makes us "us" with the visitors.

About the Director, Masahiko Sato

Communication designer

Born in 1954 in Shizuoka, Japan. Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Department of Education. After working for DENTSU Inc., he became a professor at Keio University, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies in 1999. He is now a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media since 2006. His major works include: video game software "I.Q" for PlayStation; "2355"; "0655" and "Pitagora Switch", an educational programs on NHK; "Transform Yourself" exhibition at ICC (NTT InterCommunication Center); "Arithmetik Garden" for exhibition; educational video program "Mathematic Curves Hidden in Everyday Life," a joint research project with Benesse Corporation; and "animation for concepts."

Through research and scientific experiments regarding a method of expression based on findings into brain science, his unique activities extend to many directions, including video images, expression, education and research activities with themes of "a way of thinking" and " a new way of understanding." He collaborates mainly with EUPHRATES, a creative group of graduates of Masahiko Sato Laboratory at Keio University. He has also published following books: "Keizaitte Souiukotodattanoka Kaigi" (a book in collaboration with Heizo Takenaka, Nikkei Inc.); "Maitsuki Shimbun" (The Mainichi Newspapers); "An Arbitary Point P" and "Delta" (Bijutsu Shuppan Holdings); and "Novels Printed in the Textbook" (Poplar Publishing). He has also won many awards, including; highest award from Asahi Advertising Award, Grand Prix from ADC Awards, ACC Grand Prix, Creator of the Year Award in 1991, Mainichi Design Award, Prix Danube (Slovakia), NHK Japan Prize (Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award), and Gold Prize from New York ADC Award.

Exhibition Director's Statement

Individual Attributes: Our Indifference and the Society's Fixation

The theme of this exhibition, attribute, is a rather uncommon word in Japan. If you look up the word in a dictionary, the first entry simply says;
[Attribute]
1.The distinguishing character and/or nature of a person or a thing.
(translated from Daijirin dictionary)

For example, your physical attributes include such features as your height, weight, skin color, hair color, blood type, sex, age, body shape, facial characteristics and so on. Your social attributes, on the other hand, include your name, as well as your nationality, address, occupation, professional affiliation, social status and circle of friends. Your habits and material possessions are also part of your attributes.

Society that knows about you more than you do about yourself

The leading-edge biometric authentication techniques, such as those using fingerprints and iris, made it possible to accurately capture our physical attributes that were previously impossible to recognize. We, human beings, on the other hand, cannot objectively capture even our own image or voice without special help as in the past. Since the society which surrounds us has been developing ways to acquire and accumulate such information, in the very near future, the society may know about us more than we do about ourselves in certain cases. The data obtained about our attributes could be utilized to develop an array of services tailored to individual needs or to ensure a certain level of security in a robust manner. However, these data could also be abused, leading to unduly excessive monitoring of individuals or criminal activities.

Through the pieces at this exhibition, you will learn two things; first, how the society is currently handling information concerning your attributes without your knowledge; second, what kind of information that could identify you, including those you yourself are not even aware of, could be obtained by the society in the future. The exhibition goes beyond a simple display of artwork. By studying our attributes from many different angles and expressing these observations into works, we aim to remind the visitors of the future of our attributes, including both the potential as well as the risks hidden in them.

Do your attributes really belong to you?
Under "attribute," the dictionary also gives an interesting definition;
[Attribute]
2. An inherent characteristic, without which it may deny the existence of a person or a thing.
(translated from Daijirin dictionary)

For example, your business cards, which you use to introduce yourself, are also part of your attributes, since they carry such information as your name and professional affiliation. So, how would you feel if your business cards were folded or ripped in front of your eyes? You must feel as if your existence has been denied, and you may even feel anger. If, by any chance, your family register or your name has been erased from the system, the society would treat you as if you have vanished from this planet. You, on the other hand, might find yourself nonexistent. You may even feel a sense of freedom.

Some of the exhibits used as motifs, voices, fingerprints, handwriting, reflected images, visions, memories and so on, which are all part of our attributes. Through these pieces, the second definition of "attribute" above will bring out the feeling you have never felt before. Moreover, you will realize that your existence is not even worth paying attention to. The truth about relations between you and the surrounding world will also come to your knowledge.

I would like this exhibition, including its theme "attribute" and its pieces, to be a chance where each and every visitor thinks about the relations between the society and us, what it will be like in the future and what it should really be like. I hope that the visitors will give some thoughts about themselves and the society we live in after their visit to the exhibition.

(Supplementary comment)
At this exhibition, we would like to incorporate the visitors' identity information, such as height, fingerprints and handwriting, into the exhibited pieces, in order to show the resulting presentations in these pieces. As such, we will ask the visitors to give away such information. (Of course, information will be taken only from those who are interested.) Please be advised that we are holding the exhibition in this manner given the theme of looking at how the attribute is handled in modern society and thinking about the future of the society and humanity.