SHUTL Produce: Ai Hasegawa, Immersive Installation “Parallel Tummy Clinic” Collaborator: Yuri Yama
Imagine Tokyo in 2075. The iconic city, now profoundly shaped by a declining birthrate and an aging population, has embraced a radical solution: government-provided artificial wombs, affectionately dubbed “Parallel Tummy.” This isn’t merely science fiction; it’s the compelling premise of “Parallel Tummy Clinic,” a groundbreaking immersive art installation inviting you to step into a future where reproduction, family, and identity are profoundly transformed.
Step Into 2075: A New Definition of Family
Housed within SHUTL in Tokyo’s Higashi-Ginza district, “Parallel Tummy Clinic” is the brainchild of renowned artist Ai Hasegawa, collaborating with Yuri Yamada. Together, they transport visitors to a future Tokyo clinic where citizens consult about utilizing these state-funded artificial wombs, available to every individual once in their lifetime, completely free of charge.
Step into a sterile, near-future clinical setting designed to provoke deep thought. This is where the core concept of “Parallel Tummy Clinic” truly shines: it frames artificial womb technology not as a luxury or a tool bound by genetics or wealth, but as a universally accessible public resource. This unique premise unlocks rich discussions on ethics, identity, and the very essence of parenthood in a world where natural birth has become less common.
Visitors are not passive observers. Through immersive storytelling, engaging AI dialogue, and live action role-playing (LARP), you become an active participant – an elderly individual navigating the complex choices of having children in this futuristic scenario. This direct engagement fosters empathy and critical thinking, pushing you to explore the desires, anxieties, and moral questions surrounding reproduction in an age of advanced technology and demographic change.
Artistic Innovation Meets Social Commentary
Ai Hasegawa, celebrated for her work at the intersection of art and speculative futures, alongside Yuri Yamada, has meticulously crafted an environment that feels both clinically precise and emotionally resonant. The installation seamlessly blends tactile design with cutting-edge digital and AI technologies, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. The AI dialogue systems are particularly impactful, enabling nuanced conversations that highlight the intricate interplay of technological progress and evolving social values.
This ambitious project is backed by significant academic and cultural institutions, including Keio University and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. This robust support underscores the installation’s foundation in rigorous research and social inquiry, demonstrating how artistic expression can profoundly contribute to dialogue about pressing future issues like population decline and the ethics of reproductive technologies.
Your Journey into Tomorrow: Visitor Experience
“Parallel Tummy Clinic” is on display at SHUTL, an innovative contemporary art venue in Tokyo’s Tsukiji area, conveniently accessible via the Hibiya and Toei Oedo subway lines. The exhibition runs from June 6 to July 7, 2025, and requires advance reservations. With an entrance fee of ¥1500, visitors can anticipate a thoughtfully curated experience designed for deep engagement with the installation’s narrative and interactive components.
By placing you in the shoes of an elderly Tokyo resident – a demographic of increasing significance in Japan’s aging society – the immersive environment prompts an exploration of the emotional landscape and ethical quandaries of reproductive decision-making. This direct interaction helps unearth the nuanced social implications of artificial womb technologies and the broader challenges of demographic shifts.
Beyond the Clinic: Broader Implications
More than just an art installation, “Parallel Tummy Clinic” serves as a powerful platform for societal reflection. It examines how technology might fundamentally reshape the most intimate aspects of human life: reproduction, family structures, and personal identity. By normalizing artificial wombs and decoupling them from typical socio-economic or genetic biases, the work challenges audiences to rethink entrenched assumptions about procreation and caregiving roles.
The installation’s focus on a future shaped by demographic decline resonates deeply with contemporary Japan, yet its themes extend globally, touching on universal concerns of aging populations and evolving family models. It compels audiences to question how technological solutions might both alleviate and complicate these issues, urging consideration of ethical frameworks that prioritize inclusivity and equity for all.
Experience the Future Today
Ai Hasegawa and Yuri Yamada’s “Parallel Tummy Clinic” stands as an extraordinary fusion of immersive art, AI technology, and socially engaged speculative design. Through its meticulously crafted futuristic scenario, the installation dares visitors to grapple with challenging questions about reproduction, aging, technology, and social change in 21st-century Japan and far beyond. At SHUTL in Tokyo, this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience how art can illuminate possible futures and foster critical discourse on some of humanity’s most profound questions.
This immersive experience is highly recommended for anyone interested in the compelling intersections of technology, society, and art, and for those curious about the future of human reproduction and family in our rapidly changing world. Visitors leave not only entertained but deeply provoked, inspired to ponder what kind of future we collectively want to create and inhabit. This thoughtfully produced installation exemplifies how art can serve as a powerful medium for societal inquiry and engagement around emerging technologies and their ethical ramifications.
Don’t miss this glimpse into tomorrow!
Exhibition Information:
- Venue: SHUTL (Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
- Dates: June 6 – July 7, 2025
- Admission: ¥1500 (Reservation Required)
- Accessibility: Near Higashi-ginza, Tsukiji, and Tsukijishijo stations (Hibiya and Toei Oedo lines)
https://shutl.shochiku.co.jp/exhibition/re-paralleltummyclinic
