ADF Art Gallery Project Vol.47 | “Collective Madness: Why Do People Confront Each Other?” — A Collaborative Research Exhibition by Artist Shinji Mitsuzuka and Scientist Kazuya Horibe

ADF (NPO Aoyama Design Forum) will present ADF Art Gallery Project Vol.47, a collaborative research exhibition titled "Collective Madness: Why Do People Confront Each Other?" by artist Shinji Mitsuzuka and scientist Kazuya Horibe, on view at GARDE Gallery in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, from August 28 to September 16, 2026. The two first met through Fundamentals, an exchange program connecting leading scientific researchers and contemporary artists. This exhibition marks their first collaborative presentation.

《“Collective Madness”: Where Science and Art Intersect》
“Collective Madness,” a concept positioned in contrast to “Collective Intelligence,” forms the central theme of this exhibition. Shinji Mitsuzuka and Kazuya Horibe explore how today’s digital information environment shapes human perception and contributes to social division, approaching the question from the distinct perspectives of art and science.
Based on an essay written by Mitsuzuka, Horibe presents works created using large language models (LLMs). Mitsuzuka, meanwhile, exhibits both earlier works and new pieces developed through their collaborative research. Together, their different approaches offer a new perspective on the structures of contemporary society.
The exhibition will also feature a new work inspired by a banana peel, standing approximately two meters tall. Why does contemporary society generate such deep division and conflict? Through the intersection of science and art, Collective Madness invites us to reconsider this question.

Shinji Mitsuzuka | Profile
After working as a ski patrol member, lifeguard, and bicycle messenger, Shinji Mitsuzuka entered Tokyo University of the Arts in 1999. While still a student, he worked as a television writer for children's programs. He later worked as a magazine editor and television director before beginning to exhibit his artwork in 2018. He received the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly Chairperson's Award in 2021 and the Toshiko Okamoto Award in 2022. In 2023, he was selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Hama-Cul Art Project, and participated in Roppongi Art Night in 2024.

Kazuya Horibe | Profile
Kazuya Horibe received his Ph.D. in Science from the Graduate School of Science at Osaka University in 2021. In the same year, he became a specially appointed assistant professor at the Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University. Since 2024, he has been a Special Postdoctoral Researcher at RIKEN. His current research focuses on human society and culture using mathematical models. His previous research includes human-agent interaction and artificial life.