Ishiguro & Geminoid June, 2009

Humanity and Robotinity: What It Means to Be Human and Robot

“Ishiguro & Geminoid June, 2009” is a collaborative work with Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro of Osaka University, renowned as a leading figure in the field of android research. During this period, h.o engaged in extensive discussions with Professor Ishiguro on the fundamental questions of “What is humanity?” and “What is a robot?” This piece combines both the human Professor Ishiguro and the humanoid robot “Geminoid-H1,” which replicates his appearance, along with internal imagery, into a photo collage. The collage of Professor Ishiguro as a human was created by merging MRI images with a portrait photograph taken in June 2009. The robot collage consists of internal images of the humanoid, as well as a portrait photograph of the robot, also taken in June 2009, similar to the one of Professor Ishiguro.

These unique portraits, mirroring one another, juxtapose the human and the robot. This work raises fundamental questions about “What is humanity?” and “What is robot-ness?”