Just as one’s “own self” can be established only after acknowledging the existence of “others” in the life, just as one’s “own cultural background” can be reconsidered by looking at “different cultures” in the world, in order to establish a truly global consciousness in our so-called “global society”, we may need to look at the globe from a different perspective, such as a “different globe”. “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around, does it make a sound?” is a philosophical thought experiment that raises questions regarding observation and perception. It is said to be a question posed by the Irish philosopher and clergyman George Berkeley (1685 - 1753). Can “I” exist without “you”? Can “art” exist in a world without humans, the subject of perception? Globalized humans are melting the south polar ice, burning tropical rainforests, and debating the definition of a new geological era. AI is running / runs along internal sensors. The logical choice produced by the aggregation of information, and the eventual arrival of the singularity, is just starting to shine a light at the feet of humanity. How should we deal with this unprecedented situation of global reality? “Cosmopolitan” is a serial exhibition that is designed to encourage us to think as citizens of Earth. In this second session, titled “If a tree falls in a forest…” at the gallery HIGURE 17-15 cas in Nishi-Nippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, we will introduce the works of Manabu Kanai, Mizuki Kajihara, Sae Takahashi, and Jun’ichiro ISHII.