The Contemporary Art Gallery at Art Tower Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture will be holding a special exhibition titled "Hello World: Towards a Post-Human Era" from February 10 to May 6, 2018.

Rachel MacLean, It's What's Inside That Counts, 2016
Commissioned by HOME, University of Salford Art Collection, Tate, Zabludowicz Collection, Frieze Film and Channel 4
”Art can be considered an "early warning device," allowing us to detect signs of social and psychological danger early and prepare to deal with them in good time. Half a century has passed since the days of media critic McLuhan, who in the 1960s, with his keen foresight, predicted the social changes that new technology would bring. Now, the internet has permeated society, and new technological innovations such as artificial intelligence are advancing. True to his words, "Every technology gradually creates an entirely new human environment," technology has brought about an entirely new world for humanity. While these changes are expected to usher in a new era full of hope, they also raise concerns about various problems and confusion. This exhibition explores the light and dark sides of technological innovation, and offers an opportunity to consider the future society that technology will create through the works of eight artists from Japan and abroad who respond with keen sensitivity to the present and future, where innovation and chaos intersect, to consider the light and dark sides of the era.

Cecil B. Evans, Overflowing, 2016
Courtesy of the artist and Emanuel Layr Galerie, Vienna

A highlight of this exhibition is the collaboration between artists who unravel the mysteries of the information society. Responding to the various keywords of this new era, the exhibition features works by artists who capture the ever-changing times and pioneer new forms of expression. Another highlight is the collection of works in a variety of media, including robots, video, and photography. This exhibition brings together works that tackle themes through a variety of expressive methods, including video, photography, installations, and robotic performances, such as "Affluent," a fully automated performance piece featuring Cécile B. Evans' robots Pepper and Aibo and over 20 screens of video; Akihiko Taniguchi's photographic work "Address," created using surveillance cameras; and Simon Denny's board game themed around virtual currency.

Hito Steyerl, How to Hide From Others: An Overly Preachy .MOV File, 2013
Courtesy of the artist and Andrew Kreps

While technology continues to create a convenient and comfortable society, these days many anxiety-inducing topics are also being discussed, such as the proliferation of fake news, the rise of a surveillance society, and artificial intelligence that is taking jobs. This exhibition will also feature works that shed light on these thrilling situations that lurk in our modern world. Rachel McLean's drama of human beings addicted to social media, Hito Steyerl's installation that talks about how to hide from the information society, and David Brandy's video work that teaches how to create sensational and devastating images, all give us a sense of the power of art to capture the scary aspects of the information society that are happening behind the scenes.

Kenta Kobayashi, Pink & Blue, #Blur #Sharpness, 2016
Courtesy of the artist and G/P Gallery
The exhibition will feature works by international artists such as Hito Steyerl, who was selected as the most influential person in the global art world in the Power 100 rankings published by the British art magazine Art Review in 2017, Simon Denny and Rachel MacLean, who have represented their respective countries at the Venice Biennale, and Cecil B. Evans, who has exhibited at various international art festivals. The exhibition will also feature a diverse lineup of artists active on the global stage, including New York-based Japanese art unit exonemo; Akihiko Taniguchi, winner of a special award at the 2017 Asia Art Award supported by Warehouse TERADA; and Kenta Kobayashi, a photographer gaining international acclaim as one of the next generation of photographers.

On February 24th, there will be a gallery tour where the exhibition's curator will talk about the exhibition. There will also be a special "Hello World" Talk Series, in which artists featured in the exhibition will interact with a variety of guests to delve into their respective activities and the exhibition's themes. Schedules and other details will be announced on Art Tower Mito's website (http://www.arttowermito.or.jp/).