Kurzvita

Born in 1984, So Kanno is a media artist based in Berlin since 2013. He graduated from Musashino Art University and later from the Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences (IAMAS). He currently serves as a Project Professor at Aichi University of the Arts in Japan.

Kanno's artistic practice centers on robotics, sound, and the behaviors of living systems. His notable works include "Lasermice," a swarm of sixty robots that generate emergent synchronization through laser-light communication inspired by fireflies, and "Chirping Machines," an ongoing series of sound-making robots that reproduce the calls of birds, frogs, and insects. Rather than pursuing the precise control typical of industrial robotics, Kanno designs systems that embrace unpredictability, emergence, and error. His practice spans installations, performances, and workshops, frequently utilizing his custom-built robots and often developed through collaborative efforts. His work has been presented internationally at venues including Ars Electronica, Grand Palais Paris, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, and KIKK Festival, and has received multiple awards from the Japan Media Arts Festival and Prix Ars Electronica.