Lecturer / Theme

Lecturer: Mr. Hideaki Ogawa (Co-President, Ars Electronica Futurelab)

Theme: Fashion from the Perspective of Artistic Journalism

Profile

Hideaki Ogawa (JP/AT) is a creative catalyst, artist, educator, curator and researcher in the field of art, technology, and society. He is currently a Co Director of Ars Electronica Futurelab as well as a Director of Ars Electronica Japan.

His special research focus is Art Thinking and he has conducted many innovation projects in Art and Science, Art and Industries and Art and Society. In addition to the artistic innovation research, he has realized international projects for festivals, export programs like Ars Electronica in the Knowledge Capital, School of the Future with Tokyo Midtown and the Ars Electronica Center in Linz.

He is also a representative and artistic director of the media artist group h.o. He seeks witty new ideas in response to the current social context and creates artistic expressions that keep pace with the speed of technological advancement.

Lecture Outline

The lecture explored the idea of “artistic journalism” and how it can be applied to fashion.
Mr. Ogawa drew on his work with Ars Electronica to share examples of how the fusion of art and technology can offer fresh perspectives to society. Through AI-generated films and installations that make climate change visible, he highlighted art’s role not as a consumable product, but as a catalyst for raising questions and sparking dialogue.
He further emphasized that while design often seeks solutions, art has the power to pose multifaceted questions that can shift culture and society. The talk underscored the importance of rethinking fashion as part of a broader cultural practice, and of casting creative questions toward the future.

Key Points Learned

Some of the key points that were learned by the semi-finalists and last year’s winners who attended the course are listed below.

”In today’s world, overflowing with so much information that truth itself becomes blurred, I realized we cannot judge what is right based on information alone. That is why having one’s own opinion is important, and I understood that art provides the trigger for that.”

“The perspective of viewing fashion as “art that generates questions” felt very fresh. The concept of artistic journalism made me realize that design can go beyond itself and possess the power to encourage society and people to take action.

“Through the lecture, I felt reassured that even though I create clothes, it is not only about delivering function and a finished form; it is equally valid to actively incorporate artistic perspectives that raise questions and challenge values. I want to aim for works that generate dialogue with those who wear and see them.”

“What impressed me was the perspective of turning military technology into cultural technology. For example, Cordura was originally developed for military gear, but it later spread into apparel, and its durability makes it possible to create longer-lasting garments. I felt that this viewpoint could be applied to my own project.”

Many participants shared that one of the most memorable takeaways from Mr. Ogawa’s lecture was the phrase, “Designers create solutions, artists create questions,” as well as the idea that art holds the power to generate new perspectives and dialogue. In an age overflowing with information, the lecture reaffirmed the importance of creators carrying critical thinking and pointing toward future directions.

Participants also reflected on reinterpreting fashion not merely as clothing but as a medium for conveying social phenomena and stories, and were inspired by the notion of transforming military technologies into cultural value.

Overall, this session became an opportunity to reconsider the role of expression itself—shaking people’s awareness and opening up the potential of engaging in dialogue with society through creative practice.