This article introduces my technical contribution to the performance work "A Garden of Prosthesis" by Shin Hanagata.
As the technical lead, I was responsible for implementing the AI application that formed a core part of this performance. The primary focus during development was to create a system enabling real-time interaction between the human performing artists and the AI. The goal was to explore the transformations that emerge within the performers through this dynamic interplay.
Concept Overview
(Excerpt from the official page)
A garden exists as a form in which various objects such as rocks, plants, and landforms are arranged... In this performance, not only rocks and trees, but also tools, machines, AI, virtual objects, and the human flesh are equally involved in the garden. This performance attempts to create "A Garden of Prosthesis," a garden in which these objects heal each other as parts of their own flesh, or “prosthesis,” as they are linked in a chain and mixed.
Inspired by the garden, the "gardener" treats artifacts, natural objects, virtual objects, and "objects," including human bodies, equally and acts as a catalyst for their relationship and blending to create the garden. Strollers, including photographers, AIs, and visitors, stroll through the garden, witnessing and becoming involved in the relationships among the flood of objects.
The performance involves three key elements:
- The Objects: Man-made objects, natural objects, virtual objects, and human bodies.
- The "Gardeners": Those inspired by the garden to compose it, including behind-the-scenes creators.
- The "Walkers": Visitors, photographers, and AIs who wander through the garden.
My role focused on building the AI systems that acted as both "Objects" and potentially influenced the "Gardeners" and "Walkers" through real-time interaction.
Shows
TOKAS OPENSITE 8, TOKAS Hongo (Feb 2nd-4th, 2024)
Credit (TOKAS OPENSITE 8, 2024)
- Performance: YOSHIMITSU Yoshiya, MIYOSHI Karu, YAMAGUCHI Miina, Vacuum cleaner, Steel pipes, Trees, Meat (HAGIHARA Fujio, IMASHUKU Mew, HANAGATA Shin, etc.), AI, Virtual objects, etc.
- Technical: KOBAYASHI Atsuya, JACKSON kaki, SUGINO Shimpei
- Prosthesis production: YASUDA Nobuhiro
- Installation / Space Design: mooney / Munehiro OHTA, dodi
- Management: NISHIMURA Rioha
- Graphic design: NAKAMURA Harumichi
- Key Visual: MIYOSHI Karu ＋ JACKSON kaki ＋ YOSHIMITSU Yoshiya ＋ YAMAGUCHI Miina ＋KOBAYASHI Atsuya＋ OSAWA Itsuhiro ＋ IMASHUKU Mew ＋ HANAGATA Shin
- Filming: UENO Takahiro, NAKAO Ippei
- Photography: OHNO Ryusuke, Photo courtesy of Tokyo Arts and Space
- Support: Project to Support Emerging Media Arts Creators, Agency for Cultural Affairs
Learn more about the work on the artist's official page: https://www.shinhanagata.com/works/agop
Other links
- HANAGATA Shin “A Garden of Prosthesis”｜ Exhibitions / Performances ｜ Archives ｜ Tokyo Arts and Space
- A Garden of Prosthesis/Thanatosis (Previous work of the AGOP project)