This product resides within a design fiction where the Japanese government decides to treat Hikikomori to include them in the workforce after suffering a worker shortage.
They use the suit as a test to check the resistance of a hikikomori and identify the treatable ones. The government locks the Hikikomori in the suit and monitors them.
Hikikomori are left in the suit for one-three months, depending on the duration they have been socially withdrawn.
The suit exaggerates a hikikomori's lifestyle and eliminates distractions to provide an uncomfortable experience that brings out the absurdity of their choices.
The uncomfortable experience may initiate the compulsion to recuperate from their condition after quitting the test. The Hikikomori who fail to wear the suit for the assigned duration are provided with additional treatment and prepared to be workers ready to be employed.
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Work Title
Hikikomori: Hermits of the modern society
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Work Title（EN)
Hikikomori: Hermits of the modern society
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Please describe the concept of your artwork in 1000 words.
The product developed in this project is a wearable for hikikomori that exaggerates their lifestyle choices and eliminates distractions to provide an uncomfortable experience that brings out the absurdity of their choices. The product resides within a speculative scenario where Japan's demographic crisis leads to a worker shortage and leave the government scrambling for young workers. As a desperate measure, they turn their attention towards treating hikikomori who (post-treatment) could potentially join the workforce. The government develops a suit for the hikikomori in which they eat, drink, urinate and defecate with enhanced hearing, restricted oral movement and blurred vision preventing them from escaping reality. The uncomfortable experience intents to initiate the compulsion to recuperate from their condition.
After going through a dark period myself, I was curious to learn about the extreme consequences of modern society on humans(excluding death). That's when I came across the phenomenon and involved in it to develop critical thinking to better manage challenges. -
Please describe the concept of your artwork in 1000 words. （EN）
The product developed in this project is a wearable for hikikomori that exaggerates their lifestyle choices and eliminates distractions to provide an uncomfortable experience that brings out the absurdity of their choices. The product resides within a speculative scenario where Japan's demographic crisis leads to a worker shortage and leave the government scrambling for young workers. As a desperate measure, they turn their attention towards treating hikikomori who (post-treatment) could potentially join the workforce. The government develops a suit for the hikikomori in which they eat, drink, urinate and defecate with enhanced hearing, restricted oral movement and blurred vision preventing them from escaping reality. The uncomfortable experience intents to initiate the compulsion to recuperate from their condition.
After going through a dark period myself, I was curious to learn about the extreme consequences of modern society on humans(excluding death). That's when I came across the phenomenon and involved in it to develop critical thinking to better manage challenges. -
Work Specification
Considering the global pandemic, I hade to settle for digital outputs since a physical model wasn't possible. I imagined the headgear to be made out of durable leather along with steel accessories and the suit made out of a resilient fabric(Canvas). Regardless, this choice of material is attempted to be accurately portrayed in the digital outputs. Since it is a full-body suit, the size is influenced by the wearer.
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Work Specification（EN）
Considering the global pandemic, I hade to settle for digital outputs since a physical model wasn't possible. I imagined the headgear to be made out of durable leather along with steel accessories and the suit made out of a resilient fabric(Canvas). Regardless, this choice of material is attempted to be accurately portrayed in the digital outputs. Since it is a full-body suit, the size is influenced by the wearer.
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Media CoverageURL
https://graduateshowcase.arts.ac.uk/projects/3698/cover
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Video URL
https://youtu.be/EeB4SoY1VK8
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Your OfficialURL (Website, Instagram, Facebook)
www.instagram.com/pralekhbhuyan | www.behance.net/pralekhbhuyan | www.linkedin.com/in/pralekhbhuyan
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Your Profile
Pralekh Bhuyan is an industrial designer of Indian descent who obtained an Industrial Design Master from Central Saint Martins in London. Having been raised around engineers, he specializes in design for enterprise, and his creativity is driven by product innovation. His practice primarily involves developing consumer products with a discursive take.
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Team Members
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Entrant’s location (Where do you live?)
India
