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MIKAMI MEME 2025: A Tribute to Seiko Mikami

√K Contemporary in Shinjuku, Tokyo, will host a retrospective exhibition titled "MIKAMI MEME 2025｜Seiko Mikami and The Creative Meme" from October 18 to November 22, 2025. This exhibition marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of Seiko Mikami (1961-2015), a pioneering figure in media art known for her significant contributions to the evolution of the field.

Seiko Mikami, who passed away unexpectedly in 2015, has left a profound impact on contemporary art. Emerging in the mid-1980s, she gained recognition through her works utilizing iron junk, later expanding her themes to explore the interplay between the brain and computer, the body and immunity, and evolving towards interactive art after spending time in New York during the early '90s. Throughout her two-decade career, she played a vital role in the media art scene both domestically and internationally, while also nurturing many students at Tama Art University. Even a decade after her death, her works and ideas remain vivid in the minds of many, continually inspiring thought. The issues she grappled with are now even more pressing, particularly in light of the increased data surveillance, generative AI technology, and the ongoing effects of recent global crises like pandemics and wars, making this retrospective a crucial reaffirmation of her foresight.

Despite her profound influence, Seiko Mikami's work often remained under the radar for many years. The installations from the '80s and '90s are largely irreproducible, compounded by the fact that many of her early works were discarded by her, and her activities were primarily situated within underground circles early on, transitioning to the media art scene during her later career. However, recent developments, including the acquisition of her 1990s works by the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, have been heightening interest in her contributions to contemporary art.

The exhibition "MIKAMI MEME｜Seiko Mikami and The Creative Meme" aims to showcase the works of artists who have inherited the cultural genes, or memes, from their dialogues and encounters with Mikami. This includes prominent figures such as Norimizu Ameya, who collaborated with her in the late '80s, Fuyuki Yamakawa, who served as her assistant in the early 2000s, and notable artists from Tama Art University's Information Design Department—Norimichi Hirakawa, Soichiro Mihara, Yuko Mohri, and Yang02. The essence of MIKAMI MEME is pervasive in their works, both consciously and unconsciously.

MIKAMI MEME encapsulates a perspective for understanding the world through the flow of information, including the invisible. This perspective views discrepancies and noise within the transfer of information as creative opportunities, encourages embracing chance rather than strict control by the creator, and incorporates bodily responses that transcend the awareness and will of the audience and experiencers. In doing so, MIKAMI MEME allows for a continuous dialogue and circulation in our relations to the world we inhabit.

In essence, MIKAMI MEME reflects the nodes of information fostered throughout Mikami's lifetime, shaped by numerous individuals, events, and environmental factors she encountered. The collective experiences viewed through MIKAMI MEME have thrived through the interactions among the artists in this exhibition and countless others. It is hoped that this show will provide an opportunity for the visitors to cultivate their unique memes through the artworks that have emerged from MIKAMI MEME.

On November 3 (National Holiday), Norimizu Ameya will perform the piece "Barri-Cade," which he created with Seiko Mikami in the 1980s. Additional event details will be announced on the √K Contemporary website and social media channels as the exhibition approaches.

Exhibition Information

Title: MIKAMI MEME 2025｜Seiko Mikami and The Creative Meme
Dates: October 18 (Saturday) - November 22 (Saturday), 2025, 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Closed: Sundays and Mondays (open on November 3). A reception will be held on October 17 at 5:00 PM.
Venue: √K Contemporary, 6 Minamimachi, Shinjuku City
Website: root-k.jp
Organiser: Japan Art Heritage Association
Curators: Sachiko Shikata, Tomoya Watanabe
Participating Artists: Norimizu Ameya, Norimichi Hirakawa, Soichiro Mihara, Yuko Mohri, Fuyuki Yamakawa from Grand Guignol Mirai, Yang02
Support: Arts Council Tokyo [Tokyo Arts and Culture Creation Grant (single-year support)]