Server Mikoshi (from Virtual Currency Offering Festival)

The artist organized an event called the Virtual Currency Offering Festival in Tokyo. The aim of this project is "update of religious rituals" and "making new tradition in Tokyo". People shoulder ‘Mikoshi’ which equipped a system that people all around the world can dedicate cryptocurrency to cheer the locals up. A central part of the festival was “Server Mikoshi(portable shrine)”. The system on the Mikoshi responds the dedication and the Mikoshi itself emit out and rotate lights from loads of LED on it. Then its AI synthesises prayer’s voices and sounds it loudly. This ‘Wasshoi -celebration-feature’ heighten the joiner’s vibes. In this exhibition, participants can interact to Server Mikoshi by sending sticker via the "ArtSticker" app, and it affect virtual space at the same time. photo: Masashi Kuroha

Credit

Producer, Organizer: ICHIHARA Etsuko
Technical Direction, Software Development, Hardware Design and Development of Server Mikoshi: WATAI Taiki
Software Development of Server Mikoshi: INAGAKI Jun
Frame Structure Design and Production of Server Mikoshi: KAWASHIMA Takuro
Festival Music: NICOS ORCHEST-LAB
Minister of Fermentation: OGURA Hiraku
Animatronics Design and Development of Tengu: NAKADAI Hisanao
Application and motion development of Tengu robot: WATANABE Chika
Model of Tengu robot: FUJII Naotaka
Logo Design: HATA Yurie
Photographer: KUROHA Masashi
Videographer, Editor: NOMOTO Victor
Research & PR Support: HARADA Yuki (Qonversations)
Management Support: HAYAKAWA Yukie
Sponsor: Digital Hollywood University Graduate School, inquire Inc.
Grant: Arts Council Tokyo Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture、Ogasawara Toshiaki Memorial Foundations
Support: Crowdfunding supporters via Readyfor
Voice Synthesis: WATASHIHA Inc.
Venue & Management Cooperation: Kawashima Shopping Street

Artist Info

Etsuko Ichihara

Ichihara Etsuko is a media artist and fantasy inventor. Her powerful work interprets Japanese culture, customs, and beliefs from a unique point of view and presents new, technology-based approaches. She has received extensive media attention and won the Excellence Award at the 20th Japan Media Arts Festival and Honorary Mention at PRIX Ars Electronica 2018. Recent exhibitions include “Digital Shamanism: Japanese Funeral and Festivity”, Ars Electronica Festival, and the Japan Media Arts Festival. photo: Yves Krier

Taiki Watai

Taiki Watai (JP), born in 1985, works as a media artist and a researcher. He completed the Representation and Media Course at the Graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Waseda University. He has created some artworks that embody an alternative world or the future brought by technology, by combining everyday materials and devices, and programming. His works were selected for the Japan Media Arts Festival and Honorary Mention in PRIX Ars Electronica 2017.

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