yasuhiro suzuki: please watch your step

'please watch your step', part of the digital pub­lic art at haneda air­port
image © tet­suro yoshida

'please watch your step' by japanese artist yasuhiro suzuki was one of four public
installations organized by the digital public art project at the haneda airport in toyko.
suzuki's floating human shaped balloon was an experiment in getting users
to participate in public art. for many, airports can be a place devoid of human emotion
with its vast size and long waiting periods. this site intervention hoped to evoke a positive
response from by passers and provide an element of humor and surprise to their journey.

'it's important for people to experience and participate in public art, but you can't get
everyone in an airport to do so. however, when I think of the sight of people enjoying
my work and some of the others, [I feel that] I want a lot of airport visitors to enjoy
the art exhibit.' - YS

'please watch your step' is part of 'technology to create digital art', a research proposal
selected by japanese science and technology agency (JST CREST). it is currently
being exhibited at the cyber arts japan exhibition, which celebrates the thirtieth anniversary
of the ars electronica festival in linz, austria. the show will be on display until march 22 at
the museum of contemporary art, tokyo.


'please watch your step'