Sitesite

2026

The installation “Sitesite” presents a panoramic image of Tokyo. However, the space depicted never actually existed; the image is a montage of 11 different locations in Tokyo. Each location was captured using a handheld slit-scan camera (like the old-fashioned photo-finish cameras used in horse racing). The perspective is compressed and slightly “uneven.”
At certain locations, figures appear who look directly at us. These are stereotypical Japanese characters generated by AI—an algorithm’s interpretation of what Tokyo’s residents might look like.
The viewer sees the image on a screen designed as a rearview mirror for a hyper-modern car (where the driver views the rear via a camera rather than a mirror). Thus, the viewer observes the city through a navigational instrument. The installation turns its camera toward the viewer and estimates their gaze direction by tracking points on the face. And by turning one’s head, it is possible to pan across the image.

Thanks to:

Helga Jensen, ARThitecture, vol2.