Capsule Hotels in Japan: Place & Art

Japan offers many quirky products to tourists and inhabitants alike, but the most recent one I've discovered is a "capsule hotel." Capsule hotels, once deemed "dog kennel hotels"by the American media in the 70s, are aptly named because the space in which one stays for the night is only 3 ft x 3 ft x 7 ft, just enough space to sleep in.

While certainly an object to shudder at for claustrophobics, capsule hotels certainly hold an economic appeal--only $30/night. But the fact of their existence brings up some questions about human needs, psychogeography, privacy and the possibility of surveillance. The Art Collective, Fakeshop, responded to this "utilitarian absurdity of society" (Christiane Paul, Digital Art, 163) in their project, entitled Capsule Hotel, which ran from 1995-2009. 

Fakeshop's installation created a link between the actual existing capsule hotels of Tokyo with a gallery installation that had similar structures. In the gallery capsules, the compartments were enhanced with internet, videoconferencing and other networked communications. The project allowed visitors to be part of a collective piece of performance art and narrative that lasted for 14 years.

Ken Feingold's Talking Heads

An intersection of art and science, Feingold's If/Then is a remarkable piece that combines robotics, philosophy and sculpture. Two robotics heads are immersed in styrofoam as if they are still sitting at the factory, waiting to be packed up. The two engage in an existential dialogue with each other that "probes the philosophical issues of their likeness as well as their separateness and likeness" (Christiane Paul, Digital Art, 148).

The installation holds many layers of meanings, especially if one thinks about the development and execution process the artist underwent to create the piece. Feingold conceived the idea of creating two robotic heads that contemplate their existence, and then had to create the algorithm to create the dialogue they engage in, and then create the physical sculpture, and so on. The entire project, from conception to installation, is a commentary, or reflection on, creation.

And here is another Feingold project, entitled Box of Men (2007) that raises similar questions, and is equally as fascinating.

7 d.a.y.s, a Conceptual Film Project

My partner, Danny Roth, and I engaged in a 7-day experimental film project, entitled 7 d.a.y.s, that we created for ourselves last year. The conceptual work combines poetry, prose, and images. We created one film per day, developing, shooting and editing every day, for a week.

One of the intentions of the project was to explore the ephemerality of creativity, and comment on how rapidly ideas enter and leave our consciousness. The result was a series of videos that portrayed notions and experiences that had enveloped us throughout the period of seven days. The project can be seen as a preservation and exploration of particular ideas at particular points in time.

Films by Daniel Roth and Minhae Shim

Visit Roshi Productions to watch the films. 

The Family Box, an original sculpture

Sculpture and paintings by Minhae Shim

Thank you to Karen Polin for photographing my work. 

Crazy Horse, a documentary film by Frederick Wiseman

Fred Wiseman's Crazy Horse will be screened at UMass Boston on Wednesday, September 26. The screening is free and a Q&A with the renowned director will follow.

For more information on the series: http://www.umb.edu/filmseries 

Recycled Pornography, a painting

I've been doing quite a lot of drawing and painting for the last few months. Here is one of the latest ones, entitled "Recycled Pornography." It is still in progress, but the concept is using all recycled materials for the work itself. It is created from a series of nudes I have sketched over a course of 4 months. It is on cardboard from bed packaging.

Indelible Lalita site is up!

Check it out! I did the title design and web design/development for this documentary film.

www.indeliblelalita.com

Uncle Sam vs. King Kong

A newfound hobby of mine...decoupage. Here is a little something I whipped up the other day. I had a thick notebook that was in desperate need of a new cover that didn't have an obnoxious advertisement for a school on it. Watch out King Kong, looks like Uncle Sam is quickly approaching!

Fires of Hell

Painting by MS

Cigarette PSA

Interesting art. Credited to StumbleUpon research.