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Upcoming Exhibit: 'After Understanding' by Rhizomatiks

KOTARO NUKAGA, located in Tennozu, will be hosting an exciting exhibition titled 'After Understanding' from September 12 to October 17, 2026. This exhibition, created by the acclaimed digital art collective Rhizomatiks, presents a unique exploration of knowledge, creativity, and the role of machines in art.

The Key Installation

At the center of this exhibition is a strikingly innovative plotter that etches continuous lines into a rotating stainless steel disc using a diamond-tipped needle. The nature of this work is such that once the line is etched, it cannot be erased or repainted, resulting in a permanent trace that captures the machine's creative journey.

Visitors will not only observe the functioning plotter but also the completed metal art pieces, which will evolve throughout the exhibition period as the machine continuously inscribes the disc. Each visit will reveal a new state of the work, creating an ever-changing dialogue between the visitor and the produced art.

Reflecting on Knowledge

The 'After Understanding' exhibition challenges traditional notions of how knowledge has been constructed. Historically, knowledge has been built through human understanding, explanation, and communication. However, Rhizomatiks suggests that knowledge may start to exist before it is fully understood or confirmed by humans. This shift portrays a world in which knowledge generation is no longer contingent on human comprehension.

The exhibition presents an environment where the boundaries of understanding and knowledge are blurred. Here, human presence shifts from being the source of creation to one that retrieves meaning, context, and responsibility from created outcomes. It invites the audience to consider what it means to perceive and interpret knowledge in a rapidly evolving landscape of technology and creativity.

The Question of Human Intelligence

Another intriguing aspect of 'After Understanding' is its exploration of the relationship between machines and human intelligence. Visitors will encounter a polar coordinate plotter that not only marks the surface of the metal disc but does so by analyzing its previous engravings. The path is determined not by a pre-defined goal or reward system, but through the machine's capacity to learn from its own mistakes and adjust its trajectory based on previous actions.

Interestingly, the project emphasizes the inadequacy of our intuitive judgments about complexity in machine-generated art. In tests conducted by the artists, intricate lines did not correlate with higher scores assigned by the machine, leading to a provocative discussion about the nature of value and interpretation in the realm of artificial intelligence and creativity.

A New Kind of Creation

Moving beyond the digital realm seen in previous exhibitions like 'Rhizomatiks Beyond Perception,' this new exhibit emphasizes the physicality of machines. The plotter operates without external inputs, relying solely on its internal logic and the marks it has made. This shift towards a mechanical body that continuously removes material from the metal disc represents not just an artistic exploration but an inquiry into the evolving relationship between humans and machines.

Rhizomatiks, founded in 2006, has been a trailblazer in this intersection of art and technology, exploring sound, video, space, and systems. As they present 'After Understanding' at KOTARO NUKAGA, they continue to challenge visitors to rethink their understanding of knowledge and creativity in a highly technological age.

Exhibition Details

• - Title: Rhizomatiks 'After Understanding'
• - Dates: September 12 - October 17, 2026
• - Opening Reception: September 12, 2026, 16:00 - 18:00
• - Venue: KOTARO NUKAGA, Tennozu, Tokyo, Japan
• - Hours: 11:30 - 18:00 (Tuesday - Saturday); Closed Sunday and Monday (Open September 13)

For more information, visit Rhizomatiks' website.