Oral Peace, Human One, Data Sets in Digital Space

Saturday.  Sunny day.  Clear, cold crisp.  Could have been Friday.  Who knows without a phone?  Could have been 1962 for all I know.  We had a light breakfast, included in our rate at the hotel, then set out to Roppongi (a tony section of Tokyo akin to NY’s Upper East Side, limos, elegant shops and overpriced restaurants.  I just adore a penthouse view sort of thing).

The Mori Museum, on the 53^rd floor of a skyscraper, hosts visiting expos, a “skyview” terrace where you can experience the chill of the wind with the fear of seismic activity and special exhibits that require dozens of stanchions and separate queues.  It’s deeply weird; the double height ceilings, windowless galleries, they’re all very traditional, yes, could be any museum on the planet, but in fact you are on the 53^rd story of a humongous skyscraper and at reception you wonder how and why and who thought it was a good idea in the first place?

The crowds were mainly for an Egyptian show, on loan from the Brooklyn Museum, but we took in an exhibit which had just opened, art and AI, or in art-speak, the convergence of AI, art, science and cultural possibilities.  That sort of crap.

But, oh my, it was sensational; somewhere in a mix of Huckleberry Hound’s existence in endless historical eras, Blade Runner urban detail, Barbie pink, Pokemon franchise obsession and Fantasia anthropomorphic exuberance.  All at once.

Afterwards coffee on the 52^nd floor.  View looks directly towards terrifying, also a peek-a-boo of are you kidding me? and a smidgen of do you realize Tokyo is prone to seismic activity?

After a morning with the Richy Rich’s, we trolled through the market stalls and backstreets of Ueno, had dinner near the hotel and called it a night.