Step out of Omotesando Station, and you’re instantly greeted by the vibrant “Omotesando” intersection. Here, Rhizomatiks has unveiled their latest art installation. Adjacent to it, a gallery showcases the creative journey behind this work along with related pieces, all available for anyone to explore freely. It’s not every day that a leading digital art collective from Japan pops up in such a high-profile spot—and for free! This is an opportunity you can’t afford to overlook. The only catch? Digital art can sometimes seem a bit… complex.
This article is a report on the media preview of Rhizomatiks’ ‘recursive,’ currently on display at OMOTESANDO CROSSING PARK. I’ll aim to keep things straightforward and clear, setting aside elaborate language. This is a rare moment to connect with the works of celebrated artists, so let’s take a moment to dive into that world.
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Rhizomatiks is a creative collective that explores new possibilities in technology and expression, focusing on experimental projects with a strong emphasis on research and development. They study the relationship between people and technology while engaging in R&D projects and artwork creation. Composed of artists, designers, and engineers, they take responsibility for every aspect of their projects, from hardware and software development to operations. Additionally, they collaborate with external artists, researchers, and scientists to present cutting-edge works and research to the world.
Official website: https://rhizomatiks.com/
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What’s “Raizoma”?
Rhizomatiks explores the “relationship between people and technology.” Over the past 18 years, they have been presenting art that heavily incorporates research and development elements using digital technology. Many may have experienced the unique “Rhizomatiks style” through the innovative live visuals for Perfume or the performance at the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics. Additionally, prior to this exhibition in Omotesando, they are also holding a solo exhibition at KOTARO NUKAGA in Tennozu.
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Unveiling the Image-Generating AI: Rhizomatiks’ Latest Innovation
Digital art encompasses a variety of forms, but the focus this time is on the evolution of “AI-generated images” and their potential “limitations.” First, let’s establish a foundation by exploring the image-generating AI “Beyond Perception Model,” which Rhizomatiks has introduced and is displayed at the edge of the venue.
The AI showcased at the earlier exhibition in Tennoz is a “purely cultivated” model, exclusively trained on data sourced from Rhizomatiks. It’s like an AI that has solely grazed on the grass from the Rhizomatiks farm, reflecting the creators’ distinct influence. The standout feature of this AI is that it eliminates worries about copyright infringement and doesn’t produce ethically questionable images. Moreover, the black cube-shaped PC housing this AI, along with its monitor, is priced at 5.5 million yen. This allows buyers to sidestep the various concerns linked to AI-generated images and freely craft digital art in the signature Rhizomatiks style. To top it off, commercial usage is allowed, prompting a simple yet significant question: “Is that really acceptable…?” One might ponder if this isn’t the most critical, protected aspect of the process.
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AI Learning Patterns: “Recipes” According to Daito Manabe
During the exhibition commentary, Daito Manabe, the head of Rhizomatiks, impressively referred to the patterns he taught the AI as “recipes.” It makes sense—AI generates art using what it has on hand, guided by these recipes! Pot-au-feu, nikujaga, stew, curry… by freely combining these recipes, the possibilities for variation become endless. And if we think of it as a chef publishing a recipe book, it’s quite understandable for Rhizomatiks to unleash an AI with its own aesthetic sensibility as a sort of extension of itself into the market.
At the venue, four AI-generated images are showcased on acrylic panels. These selections, chosen by Manabe from tens of thousands of images, are truly stunning—so much so that I felt an urge to take them home and display them in my room. When I think of generative art, I usually picture the flat, simplistic textures of old PC screen savers, so I was amazed to see how advanced AI has become in producing such exquisite works. This achievement is likely due to the fact that it’s a brand AI developed under a refined aesthetic vision.
As I stood there, I felt as if unexpected landscapes were revealing themselves in the details. One particular point that resembled trees reflecting in a puddle became my favorite, even though it probably wasn’t the artist’s intent. The oil painting-like brushstrokes and melting colors invite closer inspection. Additionally, there will be updates to the exhibition of outstanding AI works throughout the event, so if you visit during both the first and second halves, you can anticipate new discoveries each time.
