Congratulations to master’s students Fushi Sano and Kazuki Nagata for winning Excellence Awards in the 31st Next Young Artist Award (NYAA) Art & New Media Division!
The competition, organized by the Computer Graphic Arts Society, nurtures young talent exploring new forms of expression. A total of 428 entries were submitted this year across three categories: Art & New Media, Video & Animation, and Game & Interaction. Sano’s and Nagata’s works were selected from among 113 entries in the Art & New Media division.
Mr. Sano’s comment:
We can close our eyes, but we cannot close our ears. We are naturally defenseless against sound, always connected to the world around us. Yet, we only perceive the sounds in this world through a single window: the human ear. What if we altered that shape? If we could catch sound like animals that move their ears, how would the world soak into our bodies? This work acts as a device that alters our own bodies—the “vessels” that receive sound. It reveals that the sounds we take for granted are just singular phenomena filtered through our physical forms. I am deeply honored that my work, an experience that challenges the root of perception, has been recognized, and I extend my gratitude to Prof. Fujii and the x-Music Lab members for their support.
Mr. Nagata’s comment:
This installation, created as part of my master’s research project, addresses the environmental impact of generative AI and our tendency to perceive it as human. Each time the device automatically sends “thanks,” the AI responds, and a precise amount of water—matching the estimated consumption for that single response—is released onto the display. While AI mimics human behavior and creates the illusion of a presence, it is an engineered design that relies on water, energy, and the physical infrastructure of data centers. By “pouring water” (mizu o sasu, or to throw a wet blanket) into the human-AI interface, this work brings technology’s hidden consumption to light, prompting us to reconsider the infrastructure and environment behind the “thank you”s we instinctively type. My deepest gratitude goes to Prof. Wakita, the Lab members, and everyone involved in the creation of this work. Thank you.
Released by: Office of General Affairs at Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC)