I have expressed the metaphysical concept of dynamism of the relationship between human, things, and matters.

(Akihito Okunaka)

Synesthesia is defined as a phenomenon that causes sensory crossovers, activating two or more senses at the same time. An instance would be seeing colours when listening to music. When multiple senses are triggered, people may feel physical impulses, or a channel that transports them to a higher dimension beyond the realm.

In Akihito Okunaka, Synesthesia—crossing the senses with art— at WHAT MUSEUM, Tokyo, visual artist Akihito Okunaka expounds on this unique sensory journey where one sense simultaneously ignites other additional senses. His experiential artwork bridges dynamic interrelations among nature, society, and people, and transfigures these forms into organic elements.

A giant balloon-like installation measures twelve meters in diameter. The balloon expands to fill up the exhibit space and changes colours when viewed from varied angles. A large water pillow is placed inside the balloon for people to sit and lie on, or touch while they sink into the multi-sensual atmosphere. They could apply pressure on the water pillow and watch and feel the bubbles morph into amoeba-like shapes. These bubbles swim in different directions and set off human stimuli. Shapeless entities, such as air, water, and light (which highlight the exhibition theme) do not consist of any solid form, yet can be felt as “real” and close enough to the body. Their presence bounces across both the inner and outer surfaces of the balloon and responds according to the bodily movements.

Okunaka is currently co-director of AOIOA Institute of Arts and head of the Experiential Art Course at the Yamashiro Cultural Center in Kizugawa City, Kyoto. He specialised in art education for children and has worked with people with disabilities. His in-depth research on air, water, and light has led him to the creation of tangible forms, such as a circular structure, that could represent the ecosystem and enable people to undergo a multi-sensory experience with the elements of nature. He speculated that humans may have similar characteristics and qualities as these elements. His installations could possibly emulate new physiological sensations that arouse the feeling of synesthesia.

One of the most influential figures in Okunaka’s endeavours was French philosopher Bruno Latour, anthropologist and sociologist highly known for his achievements in social science and technology studies. Latour emphasised re-thinking and re-evaluating of our mental landscape through the heavy contribution of scientific methods. Some of his insights are interpreted in Okunaka’s works.

In T2 Collection, Collecting? Connecting?, art collector Takafumi Takahashi's acquired pieces over the years include captivating works by Tatsuo Miyajima, Kohei Nawa, and Reijiro Wada, among others. He is currently co-founder and chairman of BrainPad Inc., which promotes AI and data utilisation for acceleration of corporate digital transformation. His art collection began in 2018, arising from encounters with unique artists and artworks. The exciting adventure triggered him to establish a contemporary art club comprised of entrepreneurs and young collectors. He aims to disperse a supportive environment for new artists, curators, and art critics.

The diverse range of conceptual art pieces, from photographs, paintings, installations to video art boast exceptional qualities. These creations provide a clear perspective on how modern artists today approach the benefits of technology and its interrelation with our daily thoughts and experiences.

Tomokazu Matsuyama’s Baby, It's Cold Outside (2017) integrates multiple elements in a bright composition. The work was especially shipped from New York for its debut in Japan.

Painting of Change—003 (2020) by Tatsuo Miyajima, widely known for his multimedia sculptures and installations, consists of seven-shaped transformative pieces modelled after a digital counter. Once a week, when the dice is rolled, the number on the canvas can be changed (by the museum curator) to the number on the dice. The concept is based on the painting being an absolute entity, dependent on the unpredictable alteration of the dice, effectually opening up time and space. A direct dialogue with the artwork, through its interactive nature, consequentially resonates artistic sensibilities. The work itself becomes a kind of performance art.

Takahashi commented on his collection, “Sometimes it instantly captivates me, and other times, it begins with a ‘?’ and ends with an ‘a-ha’ moment once I hear its backstory. What I have is genuine respect for the artist’s sensibility, knowledge, creativity, craftsmanship, action-oriented approach, and, above all, passion.” (WHAT MUSEUM, Tokyo)

WHAT MUSEUM, located in the waterfront district of Tennozu Isle, has become one of modern Tokyo’s multifaceted art venues. As a warehouse facility, it caters to contemporary pieces ranging from two- and three-dimensional artworks, architectural models, photographs, movies, literature to installations that offer the public diversity in art and culture.