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Emi Kusano

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The native form of this personal name is Kusano Emi. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Emi Kusano
草野絵美
Born (1990-08-04) August 4, 1990 (age 34)
Tokyo, Japan
Other namesEmi Satellite
Alma materKeio University
Occupation
Artist
Known for
ChildrenZombie Zoo Keeper [ja]
AwardsRecipient of the 2024 Meta Morph Award in the AI Video category and runner-up in the AI Photo category. Nominated as a finalist for the Still Image Award by The Lumen Prize 2024.
WebsiteOfficial website

Emi Kusano (Japanese: 草野 絵美, Hepburn: Kusano Emi, born August 4, 1990) is a Japanese multidisciplinary artist based in Tokyo.[1] She is recognized for her integration of artificial intelligence into retro-futuristic artwork. In a collaboration with Christie's New York, an auction house, and Gucci, she unveiled an AI-generated 3D dress.[2]

Kusano serves as a part-time lecturer at the Tokyo University of the Arts[3] and is the producer and vocalist for the synthwave music unit, Satellite Young. Her artwork and installations have been featured in institutions and galleries globally, including 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Saatchi Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

She co-founded of the crowdfunded anime studio "Shinsei Galverse", which recorded a total transaction amount of 5,895.767 ETH. (approx. 10 million dollar),[4] showcasing the studio's significant impact on the blockchain art sector.

Early life

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Photography

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Kusano was born and raised in Tokyo.[5] Kusano's career began during her high school years before 2008 when she became involved in street fashion photography. Her photographs, primarily taken in Harajuku, were published on "Japanese Streets", "Metropolis", CNN's travel guide magazine "CNN GO","WGSN". Her photography was exhibited at the FIT Museum in New York [6] and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.[7]

Career

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Music and Installation work

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See also: Satellite Young

Since 2014, in collaboration with BelleMaison Sekine, Kusano has led "Satellite Young," a synthwave music unit [8] s the lead vocalist, she sings about blending 1980s idol culture with lyrics that tackle contemporary issues such as planned obsolescence ("Sony Timer"), online dating, artificial intelligence, and social media.[9] Their music, known for its conceptual depth, has earned international niche recognition. "Satellite Young" has participated in music festivals, including "South by Southwest," showcasing their unique fusion of retro aesthetics and modern critiques.[9]

In 2018, she was selected to participate in "Art Hack Day," an interdisciplinary art hackathon held at The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. where she presented "Singing Dream," a karaoke machine endowed with artificial life, earning the Jury Prize.[10]

"Instababy Generator," a 2019 installation co-created with Junichi Yamaoka, explored the concept of designer babies and received recognition at the SIGGRAPH Art Gallery.[11]

In October 2020, operating under the name Emi Satellite, she debuted as a solo singer with her first single "Glass Ceiling," an empowerment anthem that addresses the challenges faced by women and encourages progress towards the future.[12] The music video for this song features a direction where strong women rewrite the roles of protagonists in a Bishōjo game, a type of dating simulation game. This concept later served as a prototype for Shinsei Galverse.[13]

Challenge for Blockchain Art

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In 2021, she explored the financial world through her single "IPO" and entered the NFT space with "Love Is an IPO," her first NFT work on Ethereum, sold on Foundation.[14]

In April 2022, she co-founded the crowdfunded anime project "Shinsei Galverse" with Ayaka Ohira, Devin Mancuso, and Jack Baldwin. serving as one of the executive directors overseeing the creative direction and story.[13]

The project's NFT collection of 8,888 ranked #1 on OpenSea's "Top NFTs" for several days, marking one of Japan's first globally successful blockchain art projects.[14] In 2023, Shinsei Galverse produced the official "I like u" music video by Grammy-nominated singer Tove Lo as an initial anime endeavor.[15]

Kusano also contributed to discussions on Web3.0 and blockchain technology as a panelist in seminars organized by the Digital Agency of Japan.[16]

AI art

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In May 2023, Kusano's first AI art collection "Neural Fad" depicting imaginary fashion history sold out 100 pieces within 24 hours at the "Bright Moments Tokyo"[17]

In June, she created WWDJAPAN's first AI-generated magazine cover using her own face. It is the first AI cover in Japanese fashion media.[18]

She was also appointed t to the Cultural Affairs Agency's Copyright Subcommittee, she participates in discussions on generative AI and copyright.[19]

Her "Synthetic Reflections" self-portrait series debuted on SuperRare, with the first piece auctioned for 3.5 ETH (equivalent to 6,480 US dollars at the time).[20]

In July 2023, she co-exhibited a 3D AI-generated dress at Christie's "Future Frequencies" auction with Gucci, alongside Claire Silver.[21]

In September, her 30-piece "Pixelated Perception" exhibit at Art Blocks Marfa[22] explored 1990s media and gender, also showcased at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.

In December, her "Techno-Animism" AI art collection fused Japanese animism with technology. Collaborating with a U.S. gallery, she unveiled 336 pieces during a two-week Art Basel world tour.[23] Throughout the two-week tour, she sold a total of 336 pieces, generating 11.2 ETH (equivalent to 21,264 US dollars at the time).[24]

Generative art

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In February 2024, the generative art platform Art Blocks selected the work "Melancholic Magical Maiden,"[25] for its Curated category. This piece reconstructs the aesthetics of 1990s magical girl anime, offering a critique of past anime heroines. It sold out within an hour, with all 300 pieces going for a total of 57 ETH (equivalent to approximately 215,385US dollars at the time).[26]

In April 2024, Emi Kusano spoke at the Standing Committee on Copyright and Other Rights at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland, where she presented AI-specific information for discussion.[27]

Style and technique

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Kusano draws inspiration from Japanese retro-futurism as a foundation for her artwork, which explores the cutting-edge of technology. This approach is fueled by nostalgia for the pre-internet era, specifically the postwar period when Japanese mass media held significant sway. By blending modern technology with retro-culture, she captures the complex feelings of love, hate, and ambivalence towards present and future accelerationism.[28][29] While at university, Kusano was profoundly influenced by Naoki Sakai, the industrial designer responsible for igniting the retro-futurism movement. In her musical project "Satellite Young", Kusano dons the persona of an '80s female idol and sings about contemporary technology. In her installation piece "Singing Dream", she investigates the concept of an artificial life form inhabiting a karaoke machine, which has been popular since the 1980s, compelling people to sing. In the collaborative NFT art project "Shinsei Galverse", Kusano reimagines a cyberpunk anime primarily featuring female characters, incorporating elements of magical girls popular in the early Heisei period.[28]

Personal life

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Kusano has two sons. In August 2021, she minted her older son Zombie Zoo Keeper's pixel art on "OpenSea" as part of his summer research project. The artwork was purchased by notable figures including Brud CEO Trevor McFedries and Steve Aoki, who bought the piece for the equivalent of 21.82 thousand US dollars, highlighting the intersection of art, technology, and family in her work.[30][31]

Bibliography

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  • "Neo Parenting, Developing Intellectual Curiosity with Parents and Children" (March 2022, CCC Media House, Japanese)
  • "Let's touch the science in the future! Ouchi-Jikken-go" (March 2022, CCC Media House, Japanese)

Award

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  • In July 2024, her AI video "Morphing Memory of Neural Fad" won the 2024 Meta Morph Award in the AI Video category, and her AI collection "Pixelated Perception" was awarded runner-up in the AI Photo category.[32]
  • In August of the same year, her AI collections "Cognitive Chaos" and "Neural Fad" were nominated as one of the 65 finalists for the Still Image Award by The Lumen Prize 2024.[33]

Selected Art exhibition

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Discography

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See also: Satellite Young
  • "Glass Ceiling" (October, 2020)
  • "Love is an IPO" (March, 2021)

Filmography and performance

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Brand Collaboration

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  • LG Art Gallery and Commission Work "Distributed my artworks to 14 million smart screens across the United States.[35]
  • Adidas Original fall/winter edition "adicolor WINTER x HOME", Key visuals for in-store and web advertising across Japan [36]
  • Santen Pharmaceutical, Sante PC, TV ad appearance[37]
  • Adobe Premiere Rush CC web as appearance and theme song [38]
  • Google Pixel Buds in-store ad appearance and theme song [39]

Appearance

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Television
  • SENSORS (April 18, 2018 -, BS NTV, regular appearance as an assistant MC)
  • Reiwa Net Theory "NFT & Metaverse" (March 2022, 19, NHK E Tele, studio appearance)
  • Reiwa Net Theory 10min. "Change with NFT! Art & Entertainment" (March 19, 2022, NHK E-tele, appeared as a lecturer and MC)
  • Reiwa Net Theory "WEB3 Part 1" (June 2022, 25, NHK E Tele, studio appearance)
  • Reiwa Net Theory "WEB3 Part 2" (July 2022, 1, NHK E Tele, studio appearance)
  • Sukkiri (From July 29, 2022, NTV, regular appearance as a commentator)
Radio and Podcast
  • Audible Original Technolo-Juku (November 2023, -, Amazon Audible, MC)
Newspaper
  • Japan Times (March, 2017)
  • Nikkei (March, 2018)
  • WWD JAPAN (June, 2023, Cover)

References

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  1. ^ "Spectrum: In Conversation with Emi Kusano on Melancholic Magical Maiden | Art Blocks". www.artblocks.io. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  2. ^ Zargani, Luisa (2023-07-14). "Christie's, Gucci Explore Generative Art and Fashion". WWD. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  3. ^ "教員一覧 | 東京藝術大学デザイン科" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  4. ^ "日本発アニメプロジェクト『新星ギャルバース』がグラミー賞ノミネートアーティスト、トーヴ・ローの最新MVを製作"
  5. ^ Emi Kusano's Website (In Japanese and English) "Biography". 草野絵美公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  6. ^ a b "Japan Fashion Now Fashion Institute of Technology". www.fitnyc.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  7. ^ a b "Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk - Exhibition · V&A". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  8. ^ "The Kong Show introduces Satellite Young". Japan Today. 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  9. ^ a b Heisei generations make their "Envious 80's" - an unknown band to he appointed at an American Music Festival "平成生まれが作る「憧れの80年代」 無名のユニットがアメリカの音楽フェスに呼ばれるまで". BuzzDeed News (in Japanese). 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  10. ^ "Art Hack Day 2018" Selected an art piece won the first prize - The National Museum Of Emerging Science and Innovation "「Art Hack Day 2018」最優秀作品決定！ - 日本科学未来館" (PDF). Nihon Kagaku Miraikan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  11. ^ "ACM Digital Library". ACM Digital Library. 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  12. ^ Kusano Emi from Satellite Young released her first solo single 'Glass Ceiling' under the name of 'Emi Satellite' and its MV""Satellite Young・草野絵美、Emi Satellite名義で初ソロ・シングル「Glass Ceiling」リリース ＆ MV公開". Spincoaster (in Japanese). 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  13. ^ a b "Shinsei Galverse: Creating Japan's First Breakout Web3 Success with Bueno". Buenosdias. 2022-08-17. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  14. ^ a b [NFT and the family] The reason why the total transaction amount of mother's art piece reached equivalent to more than 1.3 billion yen.Nishiyama, Rio (2022-04-18). "【NFT家族】母親のアートが13億円以上の取引総額になった理由。". BUSINESS INSIDER JAPAN. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  15. ^ Pop Singer Tove Lo, Shinsei Galverse NFT Project Create Anime Music Video
  16. ^ "Web3.0研究会（第3回）". デジタル庁. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Bright Moments Tokyo". Bright Moments Gallery. 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  18. ^ “ファッションロー特集 法改正からサステナ、生成AIまで最新トピック5を解説”. WWDJAPAN
  19. ^ “第２３期 文化審議会 著作権分科会 委員名簿”.
  20. ^ "Synthetic Reflection #1". SuperRare.
  21. ^ Christie’s, Gucci Explore Generative Art and Fashion
  22. ^ "THE ARTISTS OF FEMGEN | PART 1". www.rightclicksave.com. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  23. ^ "草野絵美が、Bright Momentsと共にAIアートコレクション「Techno-Animism」で世界ツアーを展開". MASSAGE MAGAZINE. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  24. ^ "Techno-Animism". Bright Moments. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Spectrum: In Conversation with Emi Kusano on Melancholic Magical Maiden | Art Blocks". www.artblocks.io. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  26. ^ "Melancholic Magical Maiden Art Blocks NFT full analytics | Artacle". artacle.io. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  27. ^ "WIPO Search". wipo.int. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  28. ^ a b Focus on the work where can demonstrate her own value in order to balance creative activities and children -rearing -an artist Kusano Emi-"創作活動と子育てを両立するため、自分の価値が発揮できる仕事にフォーカス―アーティスト・草野絵美―". Adobe.com (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Mariko Kobayashi. 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  29. ^ Multi-creator Emi Kusano "Uses minorities as weapons and opens up her own life in an alien position." Etsuko Ichihara Asks #Creator's Survival Strategy"マルチクリエイター草野絵美、「マイノリティを武器に、エイリアンポジションで人生切り開く」。市原えつこが聞く #クリエイターの生存戦略". advanced by massmedian (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Etsuko Ichihara. 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  30. ^ An 8 year-old boy created one NFT art work and result in the equivalent of 1.6 million yen! He's glad to buy a pokemon trading-card Akiko Kobayashi (2021-09-09). "8歳の少年が描いた1枚の絵が、NFT取引で160万円相当に！ 「ポケモンカード買えてうれしい」". Buzzfeed Japan. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  31. ^ Steve Aoki has purchesed it for 2.4 million yen! How great is a famous 8-year-old boy and his "NFT art". "スティーヴ・アオキが240万円で購入！ 話題の8歳少年「NFTアート」がすごい。". Pen Online. 2021-09-17.
  32. ^ "2024 Meta Morph Award". Meta Morph AI Film Award.
  33. ^ "The Lumen Prize". The Lumen Prize.
  34. ^ "Artificial Dreams | Un Viaggio nell'Arte e nella Tecnologia al MEET". MEET. 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  35. ^ Medved, Matt. "Emi Kusano Challenges AI's Soul in "Advertising Humanity" Release on LG Art Lab".
  36. ^ "adidas Originalsのアイコニックなアパレルコレクションadicolorにバラエティー豊富な秋冬スタイルコレクションが登場 「adicolor WINTER x HOME」". プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES (in Japanese). 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  37. ^ " Who is she featured as a spokesperson for "Sante PC" ad? - Me who could not take a great achievement at ad agency to be performing in TV ad "「サンテPCの広告の人って誰？」 広告代理店で活躍できなかった私が、テレビCMに出るまで。". Huffingtonpost (in Japanese). 2018-07-11. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  38. ^ Satellite Young released their new track was selected as a theme song on Adobe Rush WEB ad "Satellite Young、新曲配信＆草野絵美も出演するAdobe「Rush」WEB CM楽曲に起用 | Spincoaster｜ 心が震える音楽との出逢いを". Spincoaster (in Japanese). 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  39. ^ A new song "IPO" by Emi Satellite, who is a vocalist of Satellite Young Emi Kusano, has released! Its remix version also released as NFT. "Satellite Youngボーカル草野絵美ことEmi Satelliteによる新曲"IPO"がリリース！リミックス版をNFTとしても発表 | Qetic". Qetic. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
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