However, the optimism of this retrofuturism is tinged with a sense of wariness and anxiety in Ikeuchi’s works; his masks and full body gadgets, designed to hide the face or encase the body like a shell, function as metaphors for defense and protection from external forces. Exploring ideas of surveillance and manipulation on both an interpersonal and macro level, Ikeuchi’s practice reflects the anxieties of Japan’s current generation, and highlights the ways in which technology has become a tool for exerting power and control– in both harmful, and empowering, ways. Ikeuchi has actively exhibited both in Japan and overseas in recent years, and has participated in art fairs such as Taipei Dangdai, Art Fair Tokyo, and Supper Club Hong Kong. He has collaborated with contemporary musicians such as Kanye West, Arca, and Japanese rapper Yuki Chiba, as well as brands such as Lamborghini, Balenciaga, shu uemura, Gentle Monster, and ACRONYM.