Is it science, art, fiction, or reality? "This project is about using the power of biotechnology to create a modern-day Aphrodite," says Sputniko!, who planned and led the "Tranceflora - Amy's Luminous Silk" exhibition currently being held at Gucci Shinjuku. The exhibition began when Sputniko!'s innovative ideas caught the eye of Gucci during a research presentation at the MIT Media Lab, where she works.
Aphrodite is the goddess of love, beauty, and creation in Greek mythology. Her story of "born from the sea, enveloped in the scent of roses, and captivating the gods of Olympus" echoes the theme of this exhibition. She explains that her source of inspiration was "Gucci's 'Flora,' which has been around since 1966. It features motifs of plants, flowers, and insects, but nature itself is changing due to the environment and biotechnology. When I thought about the future of flora, I decided to make 'Transflora' the theme of my project." The project began in collaboration with the Tsukuba National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS), which successfully developed luminous silk in 2008. "By weaving cutting-edge silk into Nishijin-ori, a fabric with over 400 years of history, we wanted to combine tradition and innovation," says Sputniko!. To create this luminous silk Nishijin-ori, they commissioned Masataka Hosoo, a member of the project unit "GO ON." Shinya Kushino used this fabric to create Amy's "lucky dress." In collaboration with Sputniko!, NIAS is currently developing rose-scented silk and silk infused with oxytocin, the love hormone. They've already begun development of "silk that might make you fall in love." It's expected to take six months to a year to complete. The idea of creating a dress out of luminous silk is the first step toward bringing Aphrodite, born from the sea, from myth to reality. The silk thread is made from silkworms injected with luminescent genes extracted from marine organisms such as jellyfish and coral. If rose-scented silk or silk that might make you fall in love are perfected in the future, a modern-day Aphrodite could become a reality.
In a fantastical space created by Velvetta Design and Yoshimi Hasegawa, luminescent silk dresses, specimens of adult silkworms injected with luminescent genes, and unspun thread and fabric are on display. Visitors are given film glasses that block LED light. The venue is lit up with LED lights to effectively accentuate the glowing silk, but the glasses allow visitors to see the silk's natural color.
Kazunori Izumiya, who created the main visual, short film, and logo design, and photographer Takashi Kamei have incorporated Amy's futuristic worldview into the visuals and video work. Witnessing Flora's vision of the future, woven together from evolving biotechnology and traditional techniques, will give you a sense of the blurring of the line between fantasy and reality.
【Event Information】
"Tranceflora - Amy's Luminous Silk" Exhibition
Venue: Gucci Shinjuku, 3rd Floor Event Space
Address: Shinjuku Takano Building, 3-26-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Dates: April 23rd - May 17th
Time: 11:00 - 20:00
Free admission, open daily throughout the exhibition
