Shiki & Kū

Shiki & Kū, a large-scale immersive audio-visual installation by Vancouver-based soundscape artist Yota Kobayashi, will be on view at VIVO Media Arts Centre from September 13 to 28, 2025. Co-presented by VIVO Media Arts and Formscape Arts, in partnership with Vancouver New Music and IM4 Media Lab, the exhibition brings together international artists and collaborators to explore the dynamic tension between form and emptiness.

Rooted in the Japanese concepts of shiki (form) and kū (emptiness), Shiki & Kū is composed of two distinct but interconnected works:

Kūsou (2022) incorporates Japanese calligraphy by Aiko Hatanaka and the acoustic and electronic soundscapes of flutist Mark McGregor, rendered through multichannel projection and spatialized sound.

Shinshiki (2025) draws inspiration from ancient Japanese animism and sacred spaces, featuring symbolic visuals created by Tokyo-based artist Ryo Kanda (Kezzardrix) and music performed by the acclaimed Italian string ensemble Quartetto Maurice.

Both works were developed in close consultation with Japanese historian Rurihiko Hara and integrate research on spiritual and cultural aesthetics from across time and place.

Each work employs spatial sound, real-time generative visuals, and cultural symbolism to guide audiences through contemplative environments where visual language, sound, and tradition intertwine. These immersive works invite audiences to engage deeply with presence, perception, and cultural symbolism in a shared experiential space.

International Collaboration

The project spans Canada, Italy, and Japan, with contributions from a diverse team of artists and collaborators:

Studio Programsounds

Yota Kobayashi (Vancouver) – Soundscape Art, Conception & Direction

Ryo Kanda (Tokyo) – Visual Art

Quartetto Maurice (Turin) – Strings Performance

Mark McGregor (Vancouver) – Flute Performance

Aiko Hatanaka (Tokyo) – Japanese Calligraphy

Rurihiko Hara (Shizuoka) – Historical Research

Project website and trailer: https://formscape.art/