Biography: 
Emi Kusano is a Tokyo-based multidisciplinary artist, born on August 4, 1990. Through the lens of retro-futurism, Emi parallelly observes modern-day technological acceleration, often employing artificial intelligence (AI) in her photography and videos to weave narratives of plausible pasts and futures. Her creative odyssey spans fashion, electronic music, generative AI art, finding resonance in the amalgam of past and future aesthetics. Emi’s works have been internationally exhibited, including at prestigious venues like the V&A Museum, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, and Christie's Auction. Her pieces have garnered recognition and have been collected across dozens of countries. Her artistry echoes a unique blend of Japanese pop culture nostalgia, often influenced by Japan's animistic beliefs, exploring the harmonic yet whimsical interplay between humanity and technology.
*For a media purpose bio, please click here

Artist Statement:

In my work, I explore the transient nature of memories through the lens of retro-futurism, melding the past's vision of the future with today's reality. This exploration springs from a fascination with the nostalgic allure of vintage science fiction and the timeless aesthetic of 60's ~90s pop culture.

Utilizing a blend of artificial intelligence and various mediums such as photography, music, anime, digital fashion, and installation, I create visual narratives that delve into the whimsical and sometimes melancholy interplay between memory and modernity. The choice of medium is integral to my exploration, as it mirrors the rapid technological advancements that continually shape and reshape our perceptions of the past and the future.

Inspired by the Japanese Animistic belief, my work is also an ode to the ever-evolving relationship between humanity and technology. It's a quest to understand how our collective nostalgia, fueled by the media and pop culture of yesteryears, influences our expectations and acceptance of the technology that propels us forward.

【Project】

• Co-founder of Web3 Anime Project Shinsei Galverse

• Lead Singer and Music Composer, Synthwave Music Unit Satellite Young

【Positon】

• Part-time Lecturer, Tokyo University of the Arts

【Education】

• 2015・Keio University BA -  Design 

【Selected Exhibitions】

• 2023-10. Neural Fad:  AI dreams Nostalgia,   “NIPPON   TV IMAGINARIUM AWARD 2023” award jury presentation, organized by NIPPON TV, (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo)

• 2023-10: "DXP (Digital Transformation Planet): Towards the Next Interface" (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa)

• 2023-09: "E-Motions" (UNIT London)

• 2023-07: "Christie's 3.0 presents Future Frequencies: Explorations in Generative Art and Fashion in collaboration with Gucci" (Rockefeller Center)

• 2023-06: "Non Fungible Conference" (Carlos Lopes Pavilion)

• 2023-05: "Bright Moments Tokyo" (Shibuya Parco)

• 2020-08: "Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk" (Victoria and Albert Museum)

• 2019-11: "SIGGRAPH ASIA Art Gallery" (Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre)

• 2018-03: "Art Hack Day" (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation)

• 2011-04: "Japan Fashion Now" (Fashion Institute of Technology, New York)
   

* For information on all exhibitions and event appearances, please click here​

【Award】​

• Winning Prize 「SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery」

• Jury Award 「Art Hack Day 2018」​