36th Bienal – Invocation #4 – Tokyo – Bukimi no Tani (不気味の谷): The Uncanny Valley – The Affectivity of the Humanoid

After three editions that toured different continents and waters, dialogued with local knowledge and practices in Marrakech, Guadaloupe, and Zanzibar, the 36th Bienal de São Paulo concludes its Invocations cycle – meetings that precede the exhibition and promote interdisciplinary dialogues about art, culture, and society in different geographical and historical contexts – in Tokyo. Entitled Bukimi no Tani (不気味の谷): The Uncanny Valley – The Affectivity of the Humanoid, the program takes place between April 12 and 14, 2025 and explores the complex relationship between humans and machines through sound, performance, and visual practices. The program is co-organized by the Bienal’s conceptual team with co-conveners Andrew Maerkle and Kanako Sugiyama, and Jordan A.Y. Smith as the advisor for the poetry program. The activities will take place at three different locations: The 5th Floor; Sogetsu Kaikan; and 21 KOMCEE West Lecture Hall, The University of Tokyo, Komaba Campus. To join the events, please register through this form.

With Asako Iwama, Bidou Yamaguchi, Cecilia Vicuña, Danny Jin, Gōzō Yoshimasu, Hikaru Fujii, Hiroko Kamide, Hiroshi Egaitsu, Marylya, Multiple Spirits, Namichie, Natsumi Aoyagi, Sakisaka Kujira, Shiori Watanabe, SRCFLP, T-Michael, Takako Arai, Takashi Ikegami, Tavia Nyong’o, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Tourmaline, You Nakai, Yuki Iiyama, Yūki Nagae, Yukie Kamiya, Yuko Hasegawa & Zai Nomura.

Check out the program below:

April 12, 2025, Sat, The 5th Floor

4pm – 8pm Screening program: Hikaru Fujii, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Tourmaline & Yuki Iiyama

[Will remain on view on April 13 and 14, from 1pm to 8pm]

4:30pm – 5pm Welcoming note by Andrew Maerkle, Kanako Sugiyama, Keyna Eleison, Thiago de Paula Souza, and Tomoya Iwata

5pm – 5:30pm Poetry reading by Sakisaka Kujira

5:30pm – 7:30pm Live broadcasting session by Multiple Spirits (Mai Endo & Mika Maruyama) with MadokaShitone, Marina Lisa Komiya & Shiori Watanabe: 触手の約束 ???? Tentacle Cross

April 13, 2025, Sun, Sogetsu Kaikan

11am – 11:30am Welcoming note by Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung

11:30am –12:10pm Poetry performance by Gōzō Yoshimasu and Marylya

12:10pm –12:30pm Listening session of Rain Dreamed by Sound: Homage to Theresa Hak Kyung Cha by Cecilia Vicuña

12:40pm – 1:25pm Lecture-performance by You Nakai with Moe Tomita: Of Stone and Sand (parables one and two)

2:30pm – 2:45pm Intervention by Multiple Spirits

2:45pm – 3:45pm Conversation between Shiori Watanabe, Bidou Yamaguchi, and Yukie Kamiya on Noh, technologies, and affectivities

3:50pm – 4:05pm Experimental poetry reading by Yūki Nagae on Conceição Evaristo

4:20pm – 5:20pm Food workshop by Asako Iwama

4:35pm – 5:20pm Intervention by Multiple Spirits

5:25pm – 5:55pm Lecture by Hiroshi Egaitsu on Shinjuku Bladerunners on Japanese Hip Hop

6pm – 6:40pm Rap performances on the theme of Uncanny Valley by Namichie, Danny Jin, and SRCFLP

7pm – 8pm Contemporary Noh presentation by Shiori Watanabe: Iruma River

April 14, 2025, Mon, 21 KOMCEE West Lecture Hall, The University of Tokyo, Komaba Campus (Organized in partnership with the Art Center, The University of Tokyo)

4pm – 4:15pm Welcoming note by Andrew Maerkle and Kenji Kajiya, director of the Art Center, The University of Tokyo

4:15pm – 4:30pm Poetry reading by Takako Arai

4:30pm – 5:15pm Conversation between T-Michael and Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung on design technologies, cross-geographic dialogues, and emotional intelligence

5:25pm – 6:25pm Roundtable discussion with Hiroko Kamide, Takashi Ikegami, Yuko Hasegawa, and Zai Nomura on robotics, mind, and art 

6:30pm – 6:45pm Poetry reading by Natsumi Aoyagi

6:45pm – 8pm Lecture by Tavia Nyong’o and conversation on the uncanny valley and the depressed cyborg

Know more.