Past Exhibition

Artist/designer. Born in Shizuoka prefecture, Ai Hasegawa graduated from Gifu prefecture’s International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences, then in 2012 earned an MA degree from the Royal College of Art in England. From 2014, she was assistant researcher at MIT’s Media Lab, earning an MS degree in 2016. From 2017, she became a specially appointed researcher at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Information Science and Technology. Her work explores new relationships between human beings and technology using approaches and techniques like bio-art, speculative design, and design fiction. She exhibits both in Japan and abroad, with venues including the Mori Art Museum, the Ars Electronica Center, and others. Her “(Im)possible Baby, Case 01: Asako & Moriga” won the Excellence Award in the Art Division of the 19th Japan Media Arts Festival.

Director and creative director Haruka Furuya was born in Tokyo and spent her high school years in Germany. She later graduated from the drama department of the University of Bristol in England. After directing dramas mainly in the theaters in Germany and England, she moved into the advertising industry. With the commercial production company Taiyo Kikaku she worked not only in film, but also on complex performances incorporating space and technology. By July 2014 she had struck out on her own, and her freelance efforts have included singer Namie Amuro’s “Birthday” music video, art direction for NHK’s The Lady Warlord television drama series, and art direction of visuals and displays for department stores like Parco, Lumine, and Mitsukoshi-Isetan. She has won awards from MTV VMAJ and One Show Interactive, among others.

Artist and researcher Yoko Shimizu was born in Kyoto and graduated from Kobe University’s biochemistry department. As a child, she had spent a number of years in the United States and would eventually find herself influenced by theNew York art scene. In her “+1e” biotechnology lab she researches design that incorporates biotechnology and other advanced sciences, globally deploying works that merge science and art. She has been a personality on international broadcasting stations, active in media presentations like TED and FITC, and a participant in the Ars Electronica Festival in 2016. Awards include the Newcomer Award for the Aichi Prefectural Arts and Culture awards.

Born in Osaka, Hiroko Ozeki went to the United States and became involved in the New York art business. In 2000, she coordinated a Shiseido corporate exhibit at New York University’s Grey Art Gallery, and it was in that connection that she would later join Shiseido in 2005. She currently oversees promotions in the U.S. market, and even while having moved internally among Shiseido’s various departments, her work has consistently involved the communication of Shiseido’s corporate values. She is currently in the SHISEIDO Brand Unit, working on international promotions and other projects.

Born in Hokkaido, Yasuo Kato completed a doctoral course at Aoyama Gakuin’s Graduate School of Science and Engineering, then went on to earn a doctoral degree in engineering. He joined NEC in 1987, then later moved to NTT’s Atsugi Communications Research Labs. In 2011, he began studying human body communication technology at Aoyama Gakuin. In 2012, he won the Best Paper Award at a symposium sponsored by the IEEE, the world's most prestigious electrical engineering organization. Having joined Shiseido in 2016, he proposed the new concept “cosmetronics” as an approach to combining beauty and electronic engineering. Currently he serves as one of Shiseido’s seven Principle Researchers, the highest level in the current active research team.

Born in Fukuoka prefecture, Miho Miyanaga studied at Kyushu University’s Graduate School of System Life Sciences, there completing a master’s degree in cell regulation engineering. In university, she studied areas including “G2-M period checkpoint impedients” and “Anti-metabolic syndrome effect by functional food components.” Since joining Shiseido, she has been involved in studies on skin care product manufacture and mass-production. She currently works on brand management for the BENEFIQUE supplements and such brands as Pure White, and is also involved in research and development on beauty food products that realize both beauty and good health that serves as a foundation of beauty.

Born in Kanagawa prefecture, Dai Fujiwara studied in China at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts, there learning about Asian philosophy, and he also graduated from Tama Art University. Having worked as a creative director for the Men’s and Ladies brands at the Issey Miyake Paris Collection, he went on to hold posts including vice-chairman and others in the Miyake Design Office. He is widely involved in planning museum exhibitions and presenting lectures, and has been the recipient of numerous awards for his efforts. He has presented academic lectures and workshops, including at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and Moscow State University. Currently he is the president of Daifujiwara Design Inc., professor at Tama Art University, researcher at the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Industrial Sciences, and honorary visiting professor at Kanazawa College of Art. Many of his activities involve building connections between art and science. Since 2015 he has served as LINK OF LIFE’s exhibition director.