Keio University Syllabus and Timetable

We will conduct research groups on two themes, "Space and Art" and "Development of a New Tool Kit," at "Type A." We will pursue art that is timeless, art that can be realized by the technologies and ideas of the current era. The goal is for students to be able to create works that can be presented externally after three years of enrollment.

1. main theme
The following two subjects will be covered.

Subject 1 - The Universe and Art
The speed of computers has given us the power to visualize worlds that were invisible to the naked eye. From black holes to quantum, from the supermassive to the miniscule, our view of the world is transformed by expanding our field of vision to the cosmic scale. At the same time, by looking at the inner universe of the human body and brain, we gain a perspective that traverses scales. In order to acquire such a "third eye," we will make "Space and Art" our main theme.

Subject 2 - Development of a new toolkit
Develop a toolkit for creative coding in the HPC (High Performance Computing) era that covers morphogenetic algorithms in nature, physical simulations, big data visualization, large display and multi-monitor environments, etc. The lab will focus on the development of tools for a variety of applications, including sound and modeling, as well as video.

2. activities
The following five activities will be conducted to confront the above subjects. Students are expected to participate in all of them.

A. Research
- Survey the latest development environments and applications to explore the possibilities of new expressions emerging from technology and technology as a media theory.
- Conduct research to share awareness of issues with post-contemporary art contexts such as post-Internet art, bioart, street art, art & science, etc.

B. Acquisition of technical skills
Aim to acquire basic skills for making things, such as programming, information design, prototyping, and simulation. Learn how to design and set up a museum through fieldwork at an exhibition site.

C. Visual Thinking Strategies
Acquire the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) process (appreciation and verbalization, dialogue, and recrystallization) through viewing artworks and fieldwork.

D. Projects
Participate in social activities related to art through joint research with external organizations conducted in the laboratory, independent projects in the laboratory, assisting Wakita's artist activities, etc.

E. Presentation
Work individually or as a team to produce a work or tool and make a mid-term and final presentation. In parallel, promote filming, documenting, and writing for presentation at external contests, festivals, and conferences.

3. implementation style

We require a lot of work on a daily basis in addition to the weekly study group. You should expect to work on the research group every day.
- Daily work: Conducting research, holding seminars, organizing workshops
- Weekly study group meeting: project progress reports, sharing of individual research progress
- Study group camp: strengthening technical skills, patience and perseverance
- Project promotion and regular meetings

4. possible research topics

- Scientific visualization as art (fluid, celestial, human body, etc.)
- Sound Performance, Sound Tools, Audible Systems of the World
- New theater, performance, fashion
- Novel web applications
- New street art, street coding
- Bioart, artificial life
- New programming languages
- Live coding, VJing, audiovisual performance
- New expressions of metaverse and VR
- New art textbooks, new design textbooks, new civics textbooks
- Community revitalization through art
- Food and art
- Something difficult to verbalize, something very weird

*The above possible themes should be related to one of the subjects of the workshop: "Space and Art" or "Toolkit in the Age of HPC".

5. recommended student profile

We encourage students with the following mindset to participate in the program
- People who have a strong desire to create something new.
- People who love art and design
- People who are willing to actively acquire science-related knowledge and skills such as programming, electronics, information design, and information mathematics.
- People who want to make a living in the world of expression.
- People who can place the activities of Wakita Lab at the center of their lives.

Conversely, the types of people who are not recommended are
- People who are too busy with outside activities to make the activities of the study group the center of their lives
- People who are not good at information technology and want to live their lives avoiding it.

6. ongoing projects

- Big Data Visualization and Artwork Creation (joint research with Mitsubishi Electric Integrated Design Research Institute)
- Three-dimensional sound synthesis for media art (joint research with NHK Science & Technical Research Laboratories)
- Visualization of cosmic rays using a fog box and its artwork (joint research with external research organizations and external artists)
- Art that critiques universities and educational systems (laboratory project)

7. past projects

XHIASMA
New stage expression by fashion designer Tamae Hirokawa, dancer Ema Yuasa, artist Akira Wakita and Wakita Laboratory.
http://akirawakita.com/#works/xhiasma

Visualization of Air Conditioner
Real-time visualization of an air conditioner developed in collaboration with DAIKIN DESIGN.
http://wakita.sfc.keio.ac.jp/inner/visualizationofairconditioner.html

Ocean General Circulation Simulation
A large-scale visualization of ocean currents developed in collaboration with Rhizomatics Research.
Beautiful visualization was achieved using big data from the Earth Simulator supercomputer.
Permanent exhibit at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) since March 2016.
https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/exhibitions/tsunagari/geo-prism/

FINA
Next-generation automobile cockpit design born from joint research with Toyota IT Development Center.
Exhibited at AnyTokyo 2015.
http://wakita.sfc.keio.ac.jp/inner/fina.html

Universe and Art

Universe and Art

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なし

- 塚田有那, 『ART SCIENCE IS - アートサイエンスが導く世界の変容』, 2018.
- 藤澤誠, 『CGのための物理シミュレーションの基礎』, 2013.
- JAGDAインターネット委員会, 『デジタルメディアと日本のグラフィックデザイン』, 2017.
- 森美術館『宇宙と芸術: かぐや姫、ダ・ヴィンチ、チームラボ』, 2016.
- スタンリー・キューブリック, 『2001年宇宙の旅』, 1968.
- クリストファー・ノーラン, 『インターステラー』, 2014.
- アルフォンソ・キュアロン, 『ゼロ・グラビティ』, 2013.

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