Rhizomatiks x ELEVENPLAY "multiplex" (2021)

Installation featuring motion data from five dancers, projected images, and a mobile robot, presented in two physical exhibition spaces and online. More than a transposition of real expression in virtual space, the project was a hybridization that sought to create an environment for a new breed of humanity from multiple perspectives.
Five cubes moved autonomously through the main exhibition space along with projections of AR-synthesized dancers, as an autonomous mobile camera that filmed the venue as video images cascaded across the walls and floor.
Visitors were afforded a curiously palpable experience of dancers who otherwise existed only as video and motion data.
An online exhibition was created from the installation data, creating a multilayered window on the work in real, virtual, and online spaces.
1. Mobile robots
A stage area measuring 27m wide and 7m deep was blanketed with images covering the entire floor and wall surfaces. Five 90cm cubes ran inside this stage area. An infrared camera was used to precisely detect the cubes’ positions and prevent collisions.
2. Multilayered exhibition
In front of the stage, we displayed video of dancers dancing amongst the cubes, replete with AR effects elucidating the dancer and cube movement.
Whereas such performances are typically only presented to viewers as a completed video, this installation sought to simultaneously demonstrate the underlying staging mechanism. By watching the performance unfold in real time, the viewer was given a heightened sensation that the AR dancers were actually present onstage with the cubes.
This look behind the curtain complemented the completed performance shown in the preceding room and gave viewers a multifaceted understanding of the installation.
The online exhibition provided yet another way to visualize the same space in 3D, drawing on cube positioning data, dancer motion capture data, and more.
Credits
Concept, Technical Direction, Visual Design, Sound Design : Daito Manabe (Rhizomatiks)
Concept, Technical Direction, Hardware Engineering : Motoi Ishibashi (Rhizomatiks)
Visual Design, Programming: Satoshi Horii (Rhizomatiks)
Choreography: MIKIKO(ELEVENPLAY)
Dancers:
SAYA, KAORI, EMMY, YU, MARU (ELEVENPLAY)
Projection System/AR System Engineering: Yuya Hanai (Rhizomatiks)
Video Engineering: Muryo Homma(Rhizomatiks)
Hardware Engineering, Craft:Toshitaka Mochizuki, Saki Ishikawa, Kyohei Mouri (Rhizomatiks)
Motion Capture: Momoko Nishimotoi (Rhizomatiks), Hajime Kotani, Miyako Toge, Yoshitaka Homma (Crescent, inc.)
Omni Wheel Motion Editing: Amira Iio, Hiroyuki Mukai (1inc)
Sound production support: KEKE
Technical Cooperation: Panasonic Corporation
Produce, Project Management : Takao Inoue (Rhizomatiks)
Production Management : Kahori Takemura, Tomoyo Obata, Naoki Ishizuka (Rhizomatiks)"
Support received from
This work was premiered at the exhibition "rhizomatiks_multiplex" and it was realized with the support of
Organized by : Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Supported by : The Agency for Cultural Affairs Government of Japan in the fiscal 2020
Sponsored by : Bloomberg L.P. / mixi, Inc.
Technical Cooperation by : Panasonic Corporation / Canon Marketing Japan Inc. / DataSign Inc. / Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. / Kyuzan Inc. In Cooperation with|AMUSE INC. / UNIVERSAL MUSIC LLC / Culture Vision Japan Foundation Inc. / Abstract Engine Co., Ltd.

[@patrikherman_]

This is incredible

[@nsjx]

just reading your notes for the installation. i was blown away because for the first part i thought the cubes were only projected, then they climb on top of them ha! nice

[@nsjx]

Excellent. Standing ovation to All, incl the musician 🤘

[@James_Baggott]

👏👏👏 Absolutely stunning visuals and beautiful choreograph! This is absolutely one of the best yet and a perfect representation of why I subscribe - to live in the future! Frisson at 3:00, tears at 5:00, and absolute WOW moment at 6:25. The music is so cleansing and this whole video helped me reset today, thank you!

[@EstebanBarreiro]

What a mixture! I love it!

[@stevenmonstop]

there's so much complexity in the different visuals. such a gem to find but a shame not many people have seen it

[@symbionproject]

Fantastically innovative and a wonderous feast for the senses!

[@6797mpmpm]

懐かしい。自分のITエンジニアの力がどんどん増してくれる😊将来こういうの作れたら最高だね

[@CarlosBernalIglesias]

espectacular ..hacia tiempo que no veia algo asi ...y lo necesitaba..ahora si que creo en el arte.

[@kosukenakano5509]

有難うございます。実際に美術館へ行って、箱が動いてる様子を見ました。その時の感動がよみがえりました。

[@technotion_]

Amazing work as always.

[@user-xp4ue2mh6v]

Amazing experience