Maru-san – Ars Electronica Center

A Visual Communicator for Future Experiences

“Maru-San” is a Japanese term meaning an anonymous individual. Maru-San is also you. Initially created to explain the works of “h.o,” Maru-San made its first appearance in 2009 during the opening of the new Ars Electronica Center, known as the museum of the future and the school of the future. It was there that Maru-San was elevated into an iconic visual art form, symbolizing interaction with the works and the reactions expected through those experiences.

Maru-San appeared throughout the Ars Electronica Center, guiding visitors on how to engage with the exhibits. This marked the beginning of Maru-San’s role as an ambassador for the center, presenting a new type of visual communicator that would appear in various exhibitions and events. Through this, Maru-San redefined the role of visual communication for the future.