From August 21 to September 27, the Pola Museum Annex in Ginza, Tokyo, will host "teamLab Exhibition: Walk through the Crystal Universe," an installation by the ultra-technologist group teamLab. Inside the venue, visitors can encounter "Crystal Universe," an installation that depicts the movement of light in outer space. The work utilizes teamLab's proprietary technology, "Interactive 4D Vision," which arranges LEDs in three dimensions to create moving, three-dimensional objects that move freely like a video. This allows visitors to walk through the work, feel the light on their skin, and experience the ecstatic cosmic waves passing through their bodies. In this ever-changing space of light, they can reminisce about the distant past and future. There's even more to allow visitors to experience the work firsthand. By accessing the exhibition's dedicated page on their smartphones, visitors can see multiple "elements" that make up the universe, such as planets and black holes. Each visitor chooses their favorite element and swipes their finger across the screen, causing that element to appear in the light space before their eyes.
The elements emerge from the smartphone and instantly fill the space with a variety of colors. Sometimes, sensing their surroundings, they move toward the viewer, passing through their body and transporting them into a dream world. The dreamy viewer swipes again and again, increasingly captivated by the sensation.
In response to the viewer's actions, teamLab's founder, Inoko Toshiyuki, offers a witty comment: "You've become a god." By "god," he means the creator god who created the universe.
But what inspired Inoko, who now offers viewers the joy of becoming a creator god, to express outer space through light?
"At teamLab, we have previously created works that are enjoyable to look at using interactive 4D vision. However, this is the first time we have worked on something that can be entered. We would like visitors to experience the sensation of the three-dimensional objects moving around and passing by them," says Inoko.
You can also hear Inoko's thoughts on his work at the artist talk to be held at the same venue on August 28th. Participation is free, and the event will run from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm (including approximately 30 minutes of viewing time).
Why not share with Inoko the excitement that arises from becoming one with the light?
【Event Information】
"teamLab Exhibition,
Walk Through the Crystal Universe"
Venue: Pola Museum Annex
Address: 1-7-7 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Dates: August 21st to September 27th
Time: 11:00-20:00 (last admission at 19:30)
Closed: Open daily during the exhibition period
Admission: Free
