Watershed takes Playable City to Japan

Watershed’s Playable City is a global movement of playful city interventions that uses innovative technology to connect people to each other and the places they live and work. It began in Bristol 2012 and has since gone on to span five continents in cities reaching as far as Recife (Portugal), Lagos (Nigeria), and Seoul (Korea). 

"We are delighted to be back in Osaka with brilliant artists from our creative community and with our partners Knowledge Capital. Watershed has a long history of collaborations in Japan - working with British Council to produce labs, residencies, events and showcases that have had huge impact for creatives in both countries. Being part of the UK's closing activities for the Japan Expo and bringing Playable City to the people of Osaka is a huge privilege. Huge thanks to My World for the support to be out here." 

Clare Reddington, CEO

This cultural exchange opportunity (from Fri 10 to Tue 14 Oct) will see the people of Osaka experiencing work from three Bristol South West-based artists, who are all a part of the Pervasive Media Studio community. The projects are: 

• House of Weaving Songs by Dhaqan Collective 

An interactive tactile and audio installation integrating Somali weaving songs and woven tapestries in an experiment to connect the city to cultural practices that can inspire us in our fight to tackle climate change.  

• Hothouse by Air Giants 

Fresh from being exhibited at Undershed, this garden of giant robotic inflatables move and glow in response to human touch.  

• A Portrait Without Borders by Kaleider 

A team of wall-drawing robots will be drawing a mural of the public on the front of Watershed’s main entrance as part of the Bristol Festival of Tech, Creativity + Culture (BTF+). Then, from Fri 10 Oct - Mon 13 Oct, another team of robots will join in and draw the same mural in Osaka. 

Playable City Osaka is a collaboration between Watershed and Osaka-based organisation Knowledge Capital and Umekita Park project Public Scoop, made possible through the prestigious MyWorld programme, funded by UK Research & Innovation’s ‘Strength in Places’ Fund.  

Clare Reddington, Watershed CEO, and Vanessa Bellaar Spruijt, Watershed Producer, are with the UK artists in Japan helping showcase Watershed’s creative technology work. 

You can check out their updates on Playable City’s Instagram account. If you want to potentially pop up on Osaka’s A Portrait Without Borders mural, submit your picture here – and come see the robot in action at Watershed.  

---