Synthetic Youth: Takenoko Zoku · Made by Emi Kusano with Sora

Emi Kusano x Sora Showcase

The project was inspired by the Takenoko-zoku, a fashion group from the 1980s.

Emi Kusano, a Tokyo-based multidisciplinary artist, creates hyperrealistic representations of collective and individual memories using AI technology. Her work, gracing the cover of WWD Japan and featured in Christie's and Gucci auctions, has been internationally exhibited at venues like the Saatchi Gallery, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, and Grand Palais Immersif.

1️⃣ Sora’s most powerful when:
Sora allowed me to capture dynamic angles that likely wouldn’t have existed in the 1970s. The dance scenes, in particular, featured unpredictable movements unique to AI, creating a distinct charm that would be difficult for humans to replicate. It also maintained a cinematic texture, and the level of detail in each individual within the crowd was truly remarkable.

2️⃣ The most exciting thing about what I created:
The most exciting part was being able to transform the images I envisioned in my mind into a video using prompts. I became so immersed in this process that it felt like I was falling down a rabbit hole. After a while, even walking through the city felt like prompts were appearing in my vision.

3️⃣ What I was able to create that I couldn’t before:
It felt like bringing a camera into a past or future that never existed and time-traveling through those moments. This sensation is something I could never experience by simply directing a video myself.

4️⃣ My process looked like:
Sora allowed me to visualize concepts I had only imagined but never had the tools to express. Since it follows physical laws, I started considering the mass of objects and the kinds of environments that would match the atmosphere I wanted to create. This led to a fascinating shift in my thought process.

5️⃣ I want other artists to know:
Sora allows you to pursue visuals you’ve already imagined or explore completely unknown ones in your own unique language. However, merely combining AI’s shared visual “vocabulary” might result in ordinary outcomes. By crafting thoughtful combinations, you can create something entirely new and original.