Born in 1990 as a member of the digital-native generation, I experienced the transition from an era dominated by mass media (1950s to early 2000s) to a globally connected internet culture, developing a lasting fascination with the former. By examining the allure and dissonance of this period, I critique rapidly evolving technologies in the modern day through the lens of retro-futurism. This theme has been a consistent focus in my multidisciplinary practice, actively incorporating diverse media such as fashion, music (including my work with the music group Satellite Young), and installations, even before integrating AI technology.
I primarily create photographs, video art, and installations by organically integrating generative AI into my artistic process. By merging algorithmic uncertainty with my artistic vision, I question the role of the artist in the AI era. I regard AI as one of many creative partners in exploring the significance and vulnerability of being human.
In contrast to the “abstraction of reality” techniques employed in Japanese anime and manga, my work infuses abstract memories with a visceral realism through the natural use of AI, blurring the line between recollection and tangible experience. My inaugural AI art series, Neural Fad, portrays Japan’s unique street culture based on powerful language models biased towards Western culture. Another project, Melancholic Magical Maiden, explores gender perspectives found in 1990s magical girl and robot anime, critically addressing themes of post-war guilt and patriarchy in Japan.
Many of my pieces incorporate self-portraits generated by AI trained on my own facial data, allowing me to investigate how information technology influences identity formation.
In our current AI era, the boundary between truth and fiction is becoming exponentially ambiguous, with an overwhelming flood of information beyond our cognitive capacity. While this may seem to point to a dystopian future, there are more pressing matters for discussion. We may be the last generation capable of collectively experiencing such intense nostalgia. Using my art as a common language for discourse, I encourage a reevaluation of the present time.
