Emi Kusano Goes Solo - ‘Office Ladies’ Debuts in Paris
AI, Gender & Identity: Experience Emi Kusano’s Groundbreaking Solo Exhibition
Bonjour Friends and Collectors,
I’m delighted to announce my first ever solo exhibition, ‘Office Ladies,’ curated by GRIDA at ArtVerse Paris from March 21 to 31, 2025. This new body of work explores the intersection of AI, self-portraiture, and gender norms, reflecting on the archetype of the Japanese ‘Office Lady (OL).’
If you’re in Paris, don’t miss the opening reception on March 21 and be among the first to witness this special series in person.
Join Emi in ArtVerse Paris!
🗓️ Dates: March 21 - 31, 2025
📍 Location: 5 bis rue Beauce, Paris
🔗 RSVP Here
To coincide with the physical exhibition, ‘Office Ladies’ will also be available as an exclusive mint on Shape Layer 2 via Highlight.xyz.
🔹 Sales Begin: March 21 at 5 PM CET
🔹 Price: 0.3 ETH
🔗 Mint Here
This following description of the artwork is drawn from the curatorial statement written by GRIDA, who has curated this series for the exhibition.
On AI Agents: Automation, Identity & Repetition
‘Office Ladies’ takes inspiration from the evolving presence of AI agents in our daily lives. By using my own body and facial data, I have generated multiple digital doubles" - emotionless yet perpetually processing information. These AI-generated figures evoke the traditional OL archetype, historically seen as the “flowers of the workplace” (職場の華) - women valued for their charm but expected to leave upon marriage or childbirth.
AI has the power to perpetuate these historical biases, yet it also offers the potential to reshape societal norms. Will AI merely replicate the past, or can it create new social structures? ‘Office Ladies’ invites you to explore this duality.
Female Self-Portraiture from a Historical Lens
Self-portraiture has long been a means of exploring identity, from Frida Kahlo’s intimate, unfiltered depictions of womanhood to Cindy Sherman’s transformations that challenge the gaze imposed on female figures. In ‘Office Ladies,’ AI becomes my medium - not as a brush or a camera, but as an entity that generates, replicates, and distorts my likeness through an algorithmic process.
Unlike traditional self-portraiture, these AI-generated doubles do not belong to me alone, they are shaped by historical biases within machine learning models. In this space of endless reproduction, ‘Office Ladies’ asks whether AI will reinforce gendered archetypes or create entirely new identities within digital culture.
‘Office Ladies’ is a deeply personal exploration of identity, technology, and the evolving role of AI in shaping human narratives.
If you're in Paris, I would love to meet you in person at the exhibition. Let’s discuss art, AI, and the future of digital self-portraiture together. Thank you for your continued support - I can’t wait to see you there!
Best,
Emi Kusano ♡