Wondering with Masato Inagaki
As part of Wonders of Nature at New Art Museum Singapore, digital artist Masato Inagaki presents Ancient Aquarium—a captivating, real-time installation that transforms AI-generated sea life into an evolving underwater world. With a background in sculpture and video game production, Inagaki’s work bridges the physical and virtual, blending artistic expression with cutting-edge technology. In this interview, he shares the journey behind his immersive creations and the process of bringing Ancient Aquarium to life.
Ancient Aquarium (2019), Projection Work, Size Variable
You first started studying sculpture and contemporary art in college, how did you end up transitioning to focusing on video game production?
Back in the early 1990s, when I was a student, I happened to help out with an exhibition called Canon Art Lab, which was likely the first major showcase of media art in Japan. That experience had a profound impact on me and sparked my fascination with technology-based expression. I was particularly influenced by works like “DTI,” which used brainwaves to alter real-time computer graphics, and the early performances of “Dumb Type,” which explored themes of LGBTQ identity and minority issues through a combination of technology and the body.
Around the same time, Sony Computer Entertainment released the first PlayStation, and in subculture circles, there was a growing wave of cyberpunk—driven by works like Akira and Ghost in the Shell. This movement made me keenly aware of the potential of video games not just as entertainment, but as a new medium for artistic expression and immersive experiences. All of these influences eventually led me to pursue a career as a 3D artist, working on video game production at companies like Namco and Sony Computer Entertainment.
People can sometimes underestimate the rigorous process of creating digital art, could you run us through the steps in creating Ancient Aquarium and how long did this project take to be completed and exhibited?
Alongside creating our own works, we are regularly involved in the development of commercial video games, CG films, and apps. We incorporate the technologies and creative techniques we gain through that work into our artistic practice. Since we began producing our own projects about ten years ago, we have been exploring new possibilities for expression using emerging game engines of the time, with underlying themes such as the relationship between the virtual and the physical.
Ancient Aquarium was created over the course of about three months by a team composed of 3D artists and engineers. Since its initial development, the piece has been continuously updated and refined with each new exhibition.
During your time as a digital artist, has there been any interactive artwork you love or remember strongly in particular? Why?
Although I can’t immediately recall specific works under the category of “interactive art,” one immersive installation that left a strong impression on me was the work of James Turrell. His pieces had a profound impact on me because they allow you to physically and perceptually experience a meditative, almost Zen-like spiritual world.
Are there any other types of digital projects you would like to create more of or creative methods you would like to experiment with in the future?
While I’m certainly interested in large-scale immersive installations that utilize expansive spaces, I believe it’s equally important to explore more accessible works that can be experienced easily, as well as pieces that exist solely within cyberspace. A multifaceted approach is essential.
Having been born and raised in Japan, I’m inherently drawn to Eastern philosophies and sensibilities, and I’m deeply interested in how profoundly these can be expressed through digital technologies built from 0s and 1s. Ultimately, my goal is to create works that can positively impact the hearts and souls of those who experience them.
Inagaki’s Ancient Aquarium invites visitors to dive into a living digital ecosystem—an experience where movement, light, and imagination merge. As part of Wonders of Nature, the installation showcases the powerful potential of digital media to reimagine how we engage with the natural world. Whether you're a gamer, an art lover, or simply curious, this is a digital journey not to be missed.