Kirsty Boyle is an artist whose passion for robots has driven her to travel the world in order to work with other like-minded puppeteers, animators and roboticists. During 2002, Kirsty visited the Aichi prefecture in Japan to study under artisan Mr Tamaya Shobei, a ninth generation Karakuri Ningyo craftsman. She also studied with Dr Yoshikazu Suematsu, Director of the Suematsu Robotics Laboratory at Nagoya University.

This exhibition is the culmination of her Karakuri studies in Japan. It explores different notions of technology through sculpture and multimedia. Until now there has been little interest from outside Japan in the Karakuri Ningyo craft, an imbalance which this show seeks to address by generating local responses.

www.karakuri.info

There will be an artist’s talk on the Karakuri Ningyo craft and how it relates to Japan’s love of robots on Thursday 30th October, 6pm.

Kirsty wishes to acknowledge the help and support of the Australia Council New Media Arts Board, eLabtronics, Celia Hartnett, Sam Jinks, Lionel Lauer, Brigid Magner and Dr Yoshikazu Suematsu in producing this show.

Photography by Christian Capurro