“The Funeral of Human Creativity” will be held. Has generative AI taken away human creativity? August 5–9 at Recto Verso Gallery.

TAKUROMAN will participate in the group exhibition Art & Graphic Exhibition 2025.August: Innovation of Creativity, held from Tuesday, August 5 to Saturday, August 9, 2025, at RECTO VERSO GALLERY in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. In this exhibition, he will present a conceptual piece titled The Funeral of Human Creativity.

This will be Japan’s first art installation where visitors experience a symbolic “funeral” for creativity. Two video works will be shown, each exploring the same theme through contrasting production processes—one driven by human creativity and the other by AI. The exhibition space will be adorned with traditional black-and-white mourning drapes made of satin silk, enhancing the immersive atmosphere.

The exhibition features four artists: TAKUROMAN, Fumiko Miwa, Aiko Yamada, and Kazuyuki. Each artist will explore the theme of “innovation in creativity” from their own unique perspective.

An Experimental Approach to Examining the Creative Process in the Age of AI

TAKUROMAN presents two video works based on the same concept, created through distinct production processes. One is driven primarily by human digital work (with partial use of AI tools), while the other is generated mainly through an AI-centered production process. By experiencing and comparing both, viewers are invited to reflect on the essence of creativity in the AI era.

Framed around the question, “Has human creativity truly died?”, the short films unfold in the style of a funeral. A host, a close friend of the deceased, and the bereaved (portrayed by AI) each deliver their own eulogy, offering varying perspectives on the "death of creativity." With a blend of humor and critical insight, the work prompts viewers to contemplate a profound question of our time.

An Immersive Space Framed by Satin-Silk Mourning Drapes

The installation features custom-made satin-silk kujimaku—traditional Japanese black-and-white funeral drapes. These drapes not only evoke the solemnity of a funeral but also display visual portraits of the three characters from the video: the host, the friend, and the AI mourner. Together, they create a contemporary mourning space that immerses visitors in a reimagined ritual of farewell.

■ Conceptual Background (TAKUROMAN)

“I’ve long felt a sense of unease. Generative AI is becoming commonplace in our lives. But are we truly aware of what this means? Perhaps our ‘power to create’ is being replaced by AI. The skills we’ve cultivated over time now seem to lose their value in an instant.

Society is rushing to adapt to AI without even taking time to grieve. Generative AI is unlike any prior technology—it holds the potential to surpass human intelligence itself. I can’t shake the feeling that something deeply human has been lost. And for that loss, I believe we need a ritual of farewell.

That’s why I chose the format of a ‘funeral.’ Through this art project, I wanted to create a space where we can reexamine what has been lost—or perhaps what we still have.”

■ Exhibition Highlights

Kujimaku (Funeral Drapes)｜Visual InstallationA large-scale visual work inspired by traditional Japanese kujimaku funeral drapes, featuring the three main characters from the film: the host, the friend, and the AI mourner. Made of custom satin silk, the piece invites visitors into an immersive “space of mourning.”

Video Work ①｜The Funeral of Human Creativity (Human-Led Production Version)Set in the form of a funeral, this short film features monologues from the host, the deceased’s friend, and the AI mourner—each reflecting on the “death of creativity” from their own perspective.

Video Work ②｜The Funeral of Human Creativity (AI-Led Production Version)

This version is primarily composed of AI-generated visuals, symbolically portraying an elderly man who has lost his creativity and a young girl brimming with imaginative energy. The piece suggests a narrative of hope and the potential for creative rebirth.

Trailer

A preview video offering a glimpse into The Funeral of Human Creativity.

■ Artist Statement (TAKUROMAN)

I created this work while continuously asking myself: “Has creativity truly died?”

Through this exhibition, I hope it offers a quiet moment of reflection for everyone engaged in creative work—to reconsider the true essence of “creativity.”

■ Exhibition Details

Title: Art & Graphic Exhibition 2025.August – Innovation of CreativityOrganizer: RECTO VERSO GALLERYDates: August 5 (Tue) – August 9 (Sat), 2025(Closed on Sundays, Mondays, and public holidays)Hours:Tue–Fri: 12:00–18:00 / Sat: 12:00–15:30Venue: RECTO VERSO GALLERY2-17-13 Kayabacho, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0025(Inoue Bldg. No.2, Room 401 – 2 min walk from Exit 3, Kayabacho Station, Tokyo Metro)Participating Artists: TAKUROMAN / Fumiko Miwa / Aiko Yamada / kazuyukiAdmission: Free

We warmly invite you to visit the exhibition.