Installation:
26 July Fri. – 2 March Sun.
Yamaguchi Center for
Arts and Media [YCAM] Foyer


10a.m.–7p.m.
Closed Tuesdays
Free admission

Sensor device, Data
Open source release
26 July Fri. now release

http://interlab.ycam.jp/projects/forestsymphony

In this Forest Symphony project,
YCAM InterLab has developed
the Arduino shield "amplifier shield" to
measure the bioelectric potential of the trees.
Detailed information for the amplifier shield
circuit diagram, parts list and Gerber format
data are now published and available over
at YCAM InterLab official website
(see above URL).

And we will be selling this exact amplifier
shield that we used to gather tree data for
Forest Symphony project at a limited quantity.

Infograph
26 July Fri. now release

https://special.ycam.jp/forestsymphony/

Online contents linked to the installation
exhibition are now released on
the official website of Forest Symphony project
(see above URL.)

Ryuichi Sakamoto produced music on
the basis of bioelectric potential data
gathered from trees around the world.
In line with this potential data,
environmental information of each forest is
added and the tree’s data conversion to music
is then presented visually as an installation
in YCAM under the visual direction of Shiro Takatani.

Direction, Music:
Ryuichi Sakamoto

Technical Direction / Research and Development:
YCAM InterLab

Technical Advisor:
Kenji Yasaka

Visual Direction:
Shiro Takatani

Visual Design: Takuya Minami
Visual Programming: Takehisa Mashimo

Organized by Yamaguchi City,
Yamaguchi City Foundation for
Cultural Promotion
In association with
Yamaguchi Board of Education
Supported by the Agency for
Cultural Affairs Government of
Japan in the fiscal 2013
Cooperate sponsored by
Cooperated by
more trees Intermediary organization,
Izumo Shrine (Yamaguchi),
Kumano Shrine (Yamaguchi),
Morotsuka Village (Miyazaki),
Sapporo Media Arts Lab [SMAL] (Hokkaido),
MIT Media Lab (USA),
SymbioticA The University of
Western Australia (Australia),
Ákos Maróy (Hungary),
Design Terminal (Hungary),
circuit board design, production:
Sensignal Co.,Ltd.
Co-developed with YCAM InterLab
Produced by Yamaguchi Center for
Arts and Media [YCAM]

“Trees convert sunlight to energy through
photosynthesis, meaning they are a genius
at capturing electromagnetic waves.
I want to turn that nature’s cycle into music.”

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Sakamoto had always been deeply in-
trigued by forests and trees…following the
Great East Japan Earthquake, this intrigue
transformed into a concrete form of artistic
expression; the Forest Symphony project.
Forest Symphony spurred from the idea of
shifting human eyes to the forest and the
environment which man lives in.
The project and its technical development
efforts are being undertaken in collaboration
with the YCAM InterLab of the Yamaguchi
Center for Arts and Media [YCAM] and its
outputs will be presented as installations
and on the website as an art project.

This project has developed an original de-
vice dedicated to measuring the bioelectric
potential of trees, working around the
concept of taking this gathered data and
Sakamoto converting it to music;
a symphony played by trees in forests from
around the world. In addition to its exhibition
as an installation, the purpose of this pro-
ject is to gather worldwide data and YCAM
has opened the initiative to the public as
an open source so that tool kits for gathering
trees’bioelectric potential can be delivered
to those wishing to collaborate.

JAPAN:
Izumo Shrine, Yamaguchi
Kumano Shrine, Yamaguchi
Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki
Sapporo Media Arts Lab [SMAL], Hokkaido

USA:
MIT Media Lab

AUSTRALIA:
SymbioticA The University of Western Australia

HUNGARY:
Ákos Maróy
Design Terminal

Direction / Music:
Ryuichi Sakamoto

Musician. Born 1952, currently lives in
New York, USA. Released his first album
“Thousand Knives” in 1978, and joined
the band YMO in the same year.
After the breakup of YMO, he composed
numerous movie soundtracks and
other Academy Award-winning works that
established him as an internationally
renowned artist who keeps pursuing
an innovative sound. Launched “more trees”
in 2007, and took part in forestation projects
and educational activities on the prevention
of global warming. He continue to be involved
in numerous activities and projects that
support recovery from the Great East Japan
Earthquake in 2011, such as “LIFE311 by
more trees”, “Kodomo no ongaku saisei kikin
(School Music Revival)” and
“www.kizunaworld.org” among others.

Technical Advisor:
Kenji Yasaka

Director and Engineer of Synetics Ltd.
Mainly working on web system development
and server admin/maintenance, He has also
programmed and design the sound for some
of the installation pieces using MAX/MSP.
One of his sound composition work
was selected at international computer music
conference 1998. other credits include:
developed sound control program for utp in
2008 and developed iOS museum application
“TOUCH THE MUSEUM” in 2009.

Technical Direction / Research and Development:
YCAM InterLab

YCAM InterLab is an R&D team affiliated
with the Yamaguchi Center for Art and Media
(YCAM.) YCAM InterLab is mainly involved
in development of installations and performing
arts commissioned by YCAM. The team also
researches the possibility of applying such
media technology in artistic expression while
also being actively involved in joint researches
with experts from Japan and overseas.

Visual Direction:
Shiro Takatani

Born 1963. One of founding member of
artist group “Dumb Type” in 1984.
Responsible for visual works in general and
currently dedicated to visual direction.
Main solo works include visual direction
of 1999 opera “LIFE” by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Production of installation “LIFE-fluid,
invisible, inaudible…” in collaboration with
Ryuichi Sakamoto (YCAM.)
Announced performance, “La Chambre Claire”
in 2008 and “CHROMA” in 2012.

YCAM 10th Anniversary
“THE OPENING LIVE CONCERT”


6:30p.m. Open | 7:00p.m. Start
26 July Friday
Venue: YCAM Studio A

Performers:
Ryuichi Sakamoto,
Koji Ueno,
Taylor Deupree,
ILLUHA

Tickets on General sale: 9 June
Advanced Reservation for
“any” membership: 1 June

Ryuichi Sakamoto’s performance at
the “Forest Symphony” installation and
Live Concert with special guests.

Forest Symphony Installation
Gallery Tour

3:30p.m.
3 and 17 August
Every Saturday in September
9, 23 and 30 November