In the entry titled “A state of mind of meat,” regine reported Makoto Ishiwata’s Vacuum Packing!, in which the consumer becomes voluntarily a vacuum packed product.

[Vacuum Packing!: Heartbeat]

Ishiwata recently built a new device called “Vacuum Packing!: Heartbeat.” As the name suggests, the device vacuum-packs a visitor from all sides in rubber — this is similar to “Vacuum Packing!,” however, the purpose of the new device is different: it is designed for self-reflection and meditation.

As such, the new device is dodecahedron-shaped and enhanced with a sound system that allows a contained person to listen to the rhythm of the heartbeat. What would you reflect upon in the smallest space you can get in? “Vacuum Packing!: Heartbeat” is exhibited at Maru Gallery in Tokyo till May 5. Every Wednesday and Saturday, the artist will be on assisting visitors who wish to enter and experience the work.

I came across this blog post (in Japanese) by a person who actually got vacuum-packed recently, and he says that he felt like a living cell. Actually, one of the artist’s intentions is to allow a visitor to sense “how small an individual is.” (you can read the artist’s short statement on Real Tokyo)