What are Semi-Biological Materials?—The Innovation and Crisis that the Fusion of Biotechnology and Art will Bring About—Yosuke Takahashi (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa) + Kazuya Kawasaki
- Date
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Sun., September 30,
WET / WEAR - FAB / FABRIC: Discussion Session
First Session: "Life and Clothing" What are Semi-Biological Materials?
—The Innovation and Crisis that the Fusion of Biotechnology and Art will Bring About.
—Yosuke Takahashi (Curator, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa) + Kazuya Kawasaki
WET / WEAR - FAB / FABRIC is a working group organized by BioClub director Chiaki Ishizuka and design researcher Kazuya Kawasaki. Its purpose is to consider the relationship between biotechnology and fashion, and to implement these ideas.
With public awareness of issues concerning Earth's environment and resources growing in recent years, and with the developments in biotechnology and computer science, the fields of biotechnology and fashion design are rapidly converging. Developments include threads made from spiderweb proteins, leather made from a paste of fungal mycelium, and a dying process that utilizes colored bacteria.
—As we draw closer to a future where the materials we wear are cultivated in a lab instead of being assembled in a factory, we must ask ourselves, what value will bio-fashion design create for our fashion habits? And how will the perception of our bodies change?
In order to recast the complicated relationship between life and clothing, WET / WEAR - FAB / FABRIC offers two programs, Discussion and Practice, that will bring together a variety of artists, designers, researchers, and industry representatives to help implement the philosophy of, "think while you create."
For the first installment of the discussion event, we have invited Yosuke Takahashi, curator at 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, who has worked with a number of exhibits related to BioArt, including Frankenstein of 2018—Viewing the Present State of Art, Science, and Society through BioArt; which is presently on display at EYE OF GYRE in Omotesando. We will open discussion with semi-biological materials, which Takahashi is an advocate of, and proceed to discuss the many ethical, societal, and environmental issues related to bio-material. While doing so we will try to find a new model for the world of fashion that will go beyond its current anthropocentric paradigm.
Event Outline
Time: 9/30 (Sun), 6:00 PM-8:00 PM (Opens at 5:30)
Location: FabCafe MTRL (Dogenzaka Pia Building 2F, 1-22-7 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo)
Participation Fee: ¥1,500
Program:
5:30 PM - Doors Open
6:00-6:40 (40 min.) - Yosuke Takahashi Lecture
6:40-6:50 - 10 minute break
6:50-7:30 (40 min.) - Dialogue between Yosuke Takahashi and Kazuya Kawasaki
7:30-7:40 (10 min.) - Feedback/Work
7:40-8:00 (10 min.) - Audience Q&A Session
Official site for Frankenstein of 2018—Viewing the Present State of Art, Science, and Society through BioArt (https://gyre-omotesando.com/artandgallery/bioart/)
Born in 1985. Assistant Curator at 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. Completed Postgraduate Art Study at Tokyo University of the Arts. Took over present post in 2014 after spending time as an Associate Curator at Aomori Museum of Art. Major projects at 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa include DeathLAB: Make Death Democratic (2018-2019), The Undying Life (2017-2018), Ghost in the Cell (2015-2016). His latest project, Frankenstein of 2018—Viewing the Present State of Art, Science, and Society through BioArt; is currently being held at EYE OF GYRE in Omotesando. Notable lectures include The Renaissance of Transhuman-centric Philosophy (The University of Tokyo, 2015). Notable discourses include The Various Problems Concerning Semi-Biological Material Usage in Bio-Fashion, published in vanitas 005 (Adachi Press, 2018). Assisted in editing the January 2018 BioArt Special issue of Bijutsu Techo. Fields of expertise are posthuman aesthetics and transhumanist art.
Born in 1991. Speculative Fashion Designer/Design Researcher. Seeks to implement fashion's futuristic direction and contemplative creativity, while relying on biotechnology, wearable technology, and digital fabrication. He also works at trying to establish an academic basis for fashion research as a design study. Nominated for the STARTS Prize 2017, received the Wired Creative Hack Award 2017 Special Award, and a YouFab Global Creative Award in 2017. His work was selected as one of the top 20 international designs in 2017 by Dutch Design Week and South Africa's Design Indaba. Selected as a Tech Skin Innovator by the Ars Electronica Tokyo Initiative. Keio University Graduate School of Media and Governance X Design Doctoral Program. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Research Fellow (DC1).