"The Reproductive Dream of Physical Dolls" - Fantasy Thoughts on Graduation Works from Tokyo Universit
The Japanese magazine "With News" specifically interviewed Kan Shihua to understand her creative thoughts and work philosophy. The following excerpts of the interview content are translated.The Forever Love
What are the opportunities for creation?
About a few years ago, at the age of 24 or 25, friends and women around us began to get married and have children, and the voice of "getting married and starting a business before the age of 30" often appeared. Especially whether to have children or not, although I have considered it myself, I have been hesitant because I want to focus on my studies. I believe that "pregnancy" is a major event that influences one's life, so I came up with the idea of creating this theme.
Why do we use physical dolls to express ourselves?
I once participated in a physical doll exhibition called the "Artificial Yi Women Expo" and have been interested in these humanoid dolls since the beginning. Until the year before last, I suddenly thought: What would happen if a physical doll equipped with AI really got pregnant? Therefore, connect the two together. The height and shoulder width of the doll are similar to mine, just like a replica.
The Forever Love
What do people who have seen this work think?
Different ages and genders have different reactions. I have heard someone say, "It's really vulgar!" Indeed, there has always been a debate about "art or vulgarity" in body art, and the origin of physical dolls is even more so. I created this work with the aim of bringing forth thoughts on "the future of separation between women and reproduction" and "what is life and human beings?", rather than other themes. However, I have always disagreed with the notion that "vulgarity is not art" or "because it is art, it is not vulgarity" because it is very difficult to define. It can be said that each flower is in its own eye!
What does "the future of separation between women and reproduction" mean? Can you explain more specifically?
Today, technology is researching and developing artificial uterus, and artificial intelligence is also rapidly developing. When the AI female robot said her dream was to get married and have children before the age of 30, and establish a happy family, the whole audience burst into laughter, but I couldn't laugh.
Although I am not going to criticize anything, this development will inevitably impact human ethical relationships. If one day artificial intelligence could really replace human pregnancy and childbirth, what would it look like? Physical dolls are currently the closest dolls to humans, and even women agree that it would be great if they could become as beautiful as them. So I want to express this message in an artistic way.
Japanese Doll
What do you think of the criticism that "physical dolls are symbols of objectification of women"?
--Reprinted from the public account: Entity doll combat experience