It’s of utmost importance that we in the developed world rethink the waste we produce and discard. Why do we need to keep upgrading and replacing technology? Where do those discarded products end up? More often than not, they still work fine. But we feel the need to get a shiny new version of essentially the same thing.

Made to Malfunction in Chiba demonstrates the potential to reuse and recontextualize objects deemed worthless or useless, allowing them to serve another purpose and gain new value as part of a creative work of art.

At the core of the project lies an aspiration to visualize the value and appeal we can find in supposedly outdated products, to consider the other options available when discarding home appliances, and to reflect on how our experiences change when these products are used in ways other than those originally intended.

The small household appliances collected through an open call put out to Chiba City residents have been given a second life by artist Simon Whetham as part of an artwork. The installation featuring these appliances is set up in a former residential space on the eight floor of the Daini Yamazaki Building in the center of the city. The appliances in the venue are equipped with built-in motion and sound sensors. When visitors enter, they seem to come back to life and begin to move. These movements constitute new versions of the appliances, different from the roles they used to play.

Event Overview

• Dates:September 19（Fri）–November 24（Mon substitute holiday）, 2025
• Opening times: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Closed Wednesdays
• Venue: 8F Daini Yamazaki Bldg.（2-13-1 Fujimi, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture 260-0015）
  [No parking/Elevator available]
• Free admission

Visitor Guide

Enter the elevator lobby through the entrance next to the yakiniku restaurant on the 1st floor of the Second Yamazaki Building, then take the elevator to the 8th floor.

Heatstroke Prevention Measures

Please take measures to prevent heatstroke by staying hydrated and wearing a hat, etc., according to the environment. If you feel unwell, please notify a nearby staff member.

Photography and Video Recording

Photography and video recording will be conducted on the day for promotional and record-keeping purposes. Media outlets may also conduct interviews and filming. Photographs and videos taken may be published on the Chiba International Art Festival website, social media, brochures, and other promotional materials, as well as on television, magazines, and other media. We kindly ask for your understanding in advance.