NCM is situated on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people. We pay respects to them, especially their Elders and storytellers, as well as all First Peoples, nationwide. NCM acknowledges that communication technologies have a long history here, far longer than European occupation.

In Conversation | Professor Inami with Stelarc

Programs & Events

JIZAI ARMS by JST ERATO Inami JIZAI Body Project, Prototyping & Design Laboratory at The University of Tokyo. Photo by Harumi Shimizu.

Seminar Room • 03 March, 6.00pm–7.30pm

Book tickets

Professor Inami, the leader behind the ground-breaking JIZAI Body Project, visits NCM for an exclusive conversation with artist Stelarc.

Striving towards unity between robotics and human beings, Professor Inami’s research pushes the boundaries of how we can adapt and augment our bodies for current and future worlds. Through wearable robotics technologies and engineering, his research led the creation of the JIZAI ARMS. Currently on display in FRIEND, these supernumerary robotic limbs explore how we can free our bodies to expand the range of human action.

Joining Professor Inami, is his long-term friend and professional collaborator Stelarc, an internationally recognised Australian artist who has consistently explored the possibilities of body augmentation through prosthetics, robotics and virtual systems in project and performance-based art.

Hear Professor Inami and Stelarc discuss their shared interest and practice of body augmentation in an intimate evening including the opportunity to view FRIEND after-hours. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine on arrival.

Program

  • 6.00pm: Doors open, FRIEND exhibition viewing
  • 6.30–7.30pm: In Conversation with Professor Inami and Stelarc

This conversation is part of NCM's ongoing series exploring critical ideas at the forefront of robotics and embodied intelligence.

Speakers

Professor Masahiko Inami

Special Advisor to the President for The University of Tokyo, Deputy Director / Professor for Advanced Science and Technology

Professor Inami completed a doctoral program at the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, earning a Ph.D. in Engineering. After serving at the University of Electro-Communications and Keio University, he has held his current position since 2016. Professor Inami’s areas of interest include technologies for augmenting the human body, human augmentation engineering and entertainment engineering.

He is the recipient of several prestigious awards including TIME magazine’s “Coolest Invention of the Year,” the Young Scientists’ Award from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the MEXT Prize for Science and Technology (Research Category). Professor Inami also serves as a board member of the Information Processing Society of Japan and a cooperating member of the Science Council of Japan. His publications include “The Birth of Superhumans! Humans Surpass Science Fiction” (NHK Publishing) and “Theory of JIZAI Body” (Springer) among others.

Professor Inami is the Research Director of the ERATO Inami JIZAI Body Project that aims to to establish a technological foundation for building a "freeing body" that can be adapted to our “smart society”, utilising assistive robotics, wearable computing, brain information decoding, machine learning, virtual reality, and other technologies. The research has unfolded across over 100 themes and produced projects such as JIZAI ARMS, Pick Hits, Sixth Finger and the film JIZAI that are currently on display in FRIEND.

Professor Inami. Image courtesy of The University of Tokyo.

Stelarc

Performance artist

Stelarc's projects explore alternative anatomical architectures. He has performed and exhibited in Japan, Korea, China, Europe, the USA, South America and Australia. He is acknowledged internationally as a pioneer in Performance, Media Arts and by the Augmented Humans research community. He has used biomedical instruments, prosthetics, robotics, virtual systems and the internet for his projects and performances. In 2010 he was awarded the Ars Electronica Golden Nica Hybrid Arts award for his Ear On Arm project.

Find out more

Stelarc with Extended Arm. Image courtesy the artist.

Venue Accessibility

  • NCM is fully wheelchair accessible
  • All gender and accessible toilets are available on both levels
  • Hearing loop available
  • NCM is a high sensory space with a variety of noise and lighting.
  • This program includes seating for all attendees
  • If you have any other access needs please get in touch, we'd love to help hello@ncm.org.au

More public programs exploring the JIZAI Body Project

Film Screening | JIZAI

Pop-up Interactive | Sixth Finger

Learn More About FRIEND

FRIEND

FRIEND