Emi Kusano Solo Exhibition curated by Grida
This series takes its cue from the concept of AI agents, which are predicted to become increasingly widespread in the near future. Multiple doubles, generated from the artist’s own body and facial data, persistently process vast streams of information without revealing any emotion. In doing so, they re-enact the stereotype of the Japanese “Office Lady (OL)”—an archetype that serves to make prevailing gender norms visible.
OLs were once referred to as the "flowers of the workplace," or shokuba no hana (職場の華) in Japanese. This phrase denotes someone, usually female, who brings charm and positivity to the office environment. At the same time, OLs were expected to leave their jobs upon marriage or childbirth, reflecting broader societal views on gender and work.
While AI poses the risk of learning and amplifying such historical biases, it also holds the promise of spurring a reconfiguration of work practices and divisions of labor. By foregrounding this duality through its “doubles,” the work prompts viewers to consider whether an AI-driven future will merely reproduce the past or whether it can potentially establish a new social order.
