Michael Wong Kam
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2026–In progress

Robot-Native Humour

An Eyeball Robot on the Rakugo Stage — a robot's nin, found in what imitation leaves behind

The eyeball robot's blue LED pupil, close up.

01Video

Work introduction — An Eyeball Robot on the Rakugo Stage · 1:06

02The work

Body
Nothing but an eye and its eyelids. It plays the characters of rakugo with gaze, eyelids and timing alone.
Expression
Gaze — a two-axis eyeballEyelids — upper and lower, independentLight — an LED pupil
Conversation
It looks at you through a camera and talks on the spot; a large language model chooses its gaze, eyelids and light together with its words.

03Credits

Concept, production
Michael Wong Kam
Co-creators
中山 亘中山 太智鈴木 歩佳
Voice synthesis
VOICEVOX

04Exhibitions

  1. 2026-11-12 – 16

    iii Exhibition 2026 (The University of Tokyo)

    Hongo Campus, Tokyo · first showing

    iii Exhibition website ↗

05Documentation

  • The eyeball robot seen through the round window of its white case, its pupil glowing blue.
    Eyeball robot, 2026
  • The blue LED pupil, close up.
    LED pupil
  • The eyeball robot in its case with both eyelids closed.
    Eyelids closed
  • The eyeball glowing blue in the dark, seen from above.
    In the dark
  • The eyeball robot performing inside a cardboard trial stage.
    Performing on a trial stage (cardboard)
  • Earlier prototype: a white 3D-printed eye with an eyelid shell, on a wooden bench outdoors.
    Earlier prototype (v1)