The Shed’s ‘KAGAMI’ Gave Us Enchantment Without Empathy

The article reviews 'KAGAMI,' a mixed-reality concert that premiered at The Shed in New York City, featuring a digitally resurrected Ryuichi Sakamoto. Created in collaboration with Sakamoto before his passing in March 2023, the event presents a ten-piece musical set where the audience, wearing augmented reality headsets, experiences a virtual performance by the Oscar-winning composer. The setting is intimate, encouraging audience members to move around and interact with the digital environment, which includes falling sakura blossoms and swirling city photographs. Sakamoto's avatar, rendered through 3D scanning, appears in his seventies, healthy and white-haired, with his voice also preserved for brief interactions with the audience. The review highlights the visual spectacle created by the augmented reality technology, such as digital snowflakes and a tree that changes colors. However, it also points out significant technical limitations that hindered the overall experience. The CGI projection of Sakamoto is described as clearly artificial, resembling a video game character, and the piano appears as an unconvincing set piece within the 'Uncanny Valley.' The animated elements, intended to enhance the magic, are prone to glitches, shaking, and disappearing when approached too closely. Furthermore, the headsets frequently disconnect, requiring technicians to intervene, and their internal fans produce a distracting whirring sound, impacting the auditory experience. A major criticism is directed at the audio quality, which is described as amplified too gently, lacking the visceral impact expected from live music in a venue of The Shed's caliber. The author argues that the metaverse's focus on optical abilities often overlooks other somatic sensations crucial for a realistic experience. This leads to the conclusion that despite the enchanting visuals, Sakamoto’s performance in 'KAGAMI' feels overwhelmingly sad, presenting one of the world's greatest composers in an unconvincing and limited digital form, looping just ten songs infinitely. The article also delves into the ethical implications of digitally resurrecting artists. It questions the future of such concerts, especially concerning the potential for new compositions without the artist's direct creative input, citing the case of Bob Ross and the monetization of his likeness after his death. The author emphasizes the importance of preserving artistic integrity and vision. The review suggests that while technology like Apple’s Vision Pro and AI for generating music might advance to create more realistic experiences, the fundamental question remains: should deceased artists continue to produce content without their explicit, ongoing creative control? The author concludes by advocating for cherishing an artist's existing work and allowing their legacy to rest, rather than demanding continuous content creation through digital means. #RyuichiSakamoto #KAGAMI #TheShed #AugmentedReality #MixedReality #VirtualConcert #MusicTechnology #UncannyValley #DigitalLegacy #RyuichiSakamoto #KAGAMI #TheShed #AugmentedReality #MixedReality #VirtualConcert #MusicTechnology #UncannyValley #DigitalLegacy