Liminal, 2018 © Louis-Philippe Rondeau

The “School of the Future Festival” by Tokyo Midtown and Ars Electronica is a new event for thinking of our future society together with a broad variety of visitors. Artists, companies and university at Tokyo Midtown will show visitors their finely honed works, projects and products. The concept of School of the Future is “a new place to think about the future, something that is not taught in school, through art and design.” Visitors to this event can freely experience fun programs, such as exhibitions, performances, workshops and talks, for kids to adults. Surely, important hints might be found for thinking about the future.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Dappi” is a Japanese term for shedding. It implies breaking through walls for transformation. Invisible walls among society. Self-limiting beliefs. We are often unaware of blindly accepting existing standards and values. Still, many people struggle to get out of the box seeking a better future, or personal growth. Whereas it seems hard for humans to do so, some living creatures shed an old skin, casting off one’s old self.

Louis-Philippe Rondeau develops devices that explore self-representation in a playful and unconventional manner. “Liminal” is an interactive installation that seeks to bring to light the boundary between present and past. Moritz Wehrmann’s Alter Ego (Version II) is a work for looking at yourself and others via a special mirror. This mirror brings various emotions, including tangled feelings toward yourself, a loss of identity, and your sympathy for others.

“I Wear the Dog’s Hair,and the Dog Wears My Hair” by Aki Inomata makes us rethink about the relationship between pet animals and people, and depicts it. Ai Hasegawa presents a tool for helping those who have never received education on fine arts and design come up with ideas for bettering the future.

“Dear Glenn”, a project inspired by his unique creative style and launched to explore the future of music through the use of artificial intelligence. Glenn Gould was known for his devotion to recording with digital media and an interest in rethinking the relationship between performer and audience. The project to develop this system has been dubbed “Dear Glenn” as a tribute to the artist’s attitude, which was the inspiration for the idea behind the project. Eyewitness AI Glenn’s performance played by piano without the pianist.

During this period, four events regarding art and media: “Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions,” “Digital Choc,” and “Media Ambition Tokyo” are being held in Tokyo. These events will collaborate beyond the borders of areas and frameworks, to enliven the media art scenes in Tokyo.

School of the Future Festival 2020 “Dappi / Out of the Box”
Date: February 20th – 24th, 2020
Open: 11:00 – 21:00
Place: Tokyo Midtown
Address: 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Entrance free
https://www.tokyo-midtown.com