Aki Inomata – C… what it takes to change https://ars.electronica.art/c/en Ars Electronica 2014 Fri, 26 Aug 2022 05:23:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.6 Why Not Hand Over a “Shelter” to Hermit Crabs? https://ars.electronica.art/c/en/why-not-hand/ Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:29:05 +0000 https://ars.electronica.art/c/?p=2249 Continue reading ]]> Aki Inomata (JP)
THU September 4 - MON September 8, 2014, 10 AM - 9 PM
Akademisches Gymnasium, 2nd floor, Room 203

A piece of no-man’s-land in Japan that belonged to France until 2009 when it reverted to Japan, which will possess it until 2059 when it re-reverts to France—this geo-political oddity reminded Aki Inomata of the behavior of hermit crabs and inspired him to create this work. After all, hermit crabs cast off their shell when they outgrow them.

Plastic Crab Shells

Then again, sometimes they’re forced to abandon their shell when a stronger member of their species comes along and drives them out. For just such cases, Inomata has produced transparent plastic shells, which she offers to the crabs. Depending on their individual preference, the crabs decide for or against moving into the tiny plastic objects.

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