Exploring Inside Dementia: A Unique Art Experience at Tokyo Biennale

Inside Dementia: An Immersive Art Experience by Nozomi Kubota

The Tokyo Biennale 2025 has commenced, showcasing the latest work of contemporary artist Nozomi Kubota—'Inside Dementia.' Running from October 17 to December 14, 2025, this installation is a part of an internationally renowned art festival that aims to explore the intersection of art and societal practices.

Nozomi Kubota, known for holding 20 AI patents, has created this installation to challenge the unconscious exclusion of minorities in an AI-driven society. Through the use of Deep Fake technology and recorded conversations with elderly individuals suffering from dementia, 'Inside Dementia' offers attendees an experiential simulation that transports them into the mind of a dementia patient.

About the Tokyo Biennale

The Tokyo Biennale is an international art festival established in 2021 that endeavors to be a collaborative platform for citizens and artists alike. In its third edition, the Biennale focuses on exploring the social engagement of art, diving into the myriad challenges and possibilities presented by Tokyo. The festival aims to grant residents and visitors alike a fresh perspective on their environment and individual lifestyle through artistic expression.

The exhibition is hosted at Etoile Kaito Living Hall located at 1-15-15 Higashi-Kanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo. Note: The venue is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and operates from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM, with extended hours until 7:00 PM on Fridays. Attendees should bring a smartphone and compatible headphones to participate in the interactive experience.

Understanding Inside Dementia

This innovative installation draws heavily from Nozomi Kubota's personal interviews with cancer patient 'Sekiko,' presenting footage from their dialogues alongside Sekiko's cherished items. The narrative is structured around interviews with dementia patients like Sekiko and 'Fumi.' Upon entering the experience, participants are invited to provide their own voice, which AI utilizes to create a synthetic audio experience as if they are conversing with Sekiko and Fumi. By walking through the venue while echoing another's words with their voice, participants are compelled to engage within the dynamics of care and memory.

At the end of the experience, the voice data is erased, leaving no record of the interaction. This ephemeral nature raises ethical questions surrounding ownership of voice, memory, and the broader implications of care in society.

Featuring an installation format, 'Inside Dementia' incorporates diverse materials such as displays, stands, wheelchairs, care chairs, and the aforementioned Deep Fake technology.

Experience Flow:

1. Participants assume the role of a caregiver, tasked with accompanying Fumi to a different venue at the Tokyo Biennale.
2. In a soundproof room, they record a script via an app. AI analyzes their voiceprint to generate a synthetic voice.
3. Participants engage in a simulated conversation with dementia patient Fumi, walking through the Biennale's venues.

About Nozomi Kubota

Nozomi Kubota's overarching concept, 'The Roar of Outliers' is rooted in the notion that societal minorities should not be overlooked in the advancement of technology. As a leader in an AI implementation business with 20 years of expertise in data analytics, Kubota confronts the issue of how outlier data—which is typically disregarded—can reflect the lived experiences of those frequently sidelined in the evolution of AI. Through her work, she seeks to reevaluate the value of these societal outliers, pushing to highlight their intrinsic worth.