The “Yamada Taro” project by Japanese artist Katsuki Nogami explores ideas of identity and the anonymity in technology. “Yamada Taro” is a placeholder Japanese name, like “Juan Dela Cruz” in the Philippines. To create “placeholder people,” Nogami attaches iPads to people’s faces. The performers, who he calls as “friends,” will take photos of strangers they encounter. Each photo will appear on the iPad screens, “transferring” one’s identity to the performers.

In anticipation of Manila Biennale:OPENCITY 2018, CARLOS CELDRAN of VivaManila in partnership with WSK: The Festival of the Recently Possible, The Japan Foundation Asia Center and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts is bringing Katsuki Nogami’s “Yamada Taro” project to Manila on Oct 27, 2017 at 4PM.