HUMAN ONE is a groundbreaking and visionary work, unique in the realm of contemporary art. It takes the form of a video sculpture depicting the first human born in the metaverse: a meta-human, clad in a space suit-like outfit, who walks endlessly through a perpetually shifting digital landscape.
The world he traverses merges pop, fantastical, and fairy-tale elements, creating a dreamlike scenario in constant flux.
One of the most compelling aspects of the piece is its dynamic variability: the artist can remotely alter the video content, making each encounter a unique experience.
This continuous evolution reflects the concept of an artwork in constant dialogue with the present and the ever-expanding possibilities of technology.
The artist behind the work, Mike Winkelmann, better known by his pseudonym Beeple, is a graphic designer and digital animator regarded as one of the foremost innovators in the field. His body of work is known for its eccentric, experimental, and often provocative style, blending cutting-edge media with humor and satire to explore themes related to contemporary society, politics, and global visual culture.
HUMAN ONE is currently on view in the exhibition MACHINE LOVE: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. The show features works by international artists who use artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and gaming culture as central tools for artistic expression.
From digital avatars exploring social and gender identities to virtual landscapes imagining new worlds, the exhibition centers on the evolving relationship between contemporary art, emerging technologies, and the human condition.
MACHINE LOVE: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art
Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
Until June 8, 2025
Mori Art Museum
Image:
Beeple, HUMAN ONE, 2021
Four video screens (16k resolution), polished aluminum metal, mahogany wood frame, media server, and endless video with corresponding dynamic nonfungible token
220 x 114.8 x 114.8 cm
Installation view: MACHINE LOVE: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2025
Photo by Takehisa Naoki
Courtesy of Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
28/05/25
