The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo has launched its space and art-themed exhibition, "Mission [Space x Art]—Beyond Cosmology," running through August 31st. The exhibition features approximately 50 space-related artworks and materials from diverse perspectives, displayed across two floors. It showcases both the real universe becoming more accessible thanks to technological advances and the inner universe explored by artists. According to curator Tomoe Moriyama, the exhibition also conveys the message that "it is only by recognizing ambiguous expressions that we can move on to the next stage of creativity." The first floor primarily houses art installations. One of the exhibition's highlights is Takayuki Ohira's "Dreamlike Universe," a super planetarium featuring cushions placed in a spacious space where visitors can relax and gaze upon the starry sky. There are no audio commentaries about the stars; instead, images of the vast universe and vibrant auroras are shown. Ohira explained, "I removed unnecessary information so that viewers could contemplate the world and themselves through the video."

Also on the same floor is teamLab's 4K video work "Cold Life." A small structure appears against a pitch-black background, gradually expanding, evoking the very essence of the universe. While this work expresses the cosmos, it also possesses the elegance of Japanese painting. The shining blue central structure resembles the trunk of a large tree, with various flowers blooming on the branches and birds and butterflies fluttering around it. teamLab's Toshiyuki Inoko describes the work as "a work that strips away the surface texture, revealing only the structure."

Other exhibits on the first floor include an installation by Hiroyuki Moriwaki that expresses the laws of the universe, a CG work by Keiko Kimoto that evokes the creation of the universe, and a series of works by Yasuhiro Suzuki that resemble apples in space. The second basement floor features works that straddle the boundary between the "real universe" and the "universe of expression." Kohei Nawa's works are divided into three series: the "Direction" series, paintings that strongly evoke the force of gravity; the "Moment" series, drawings created using pendulum motion; and the "Ether" series, sculptures inspired by the idea of pouring ink onto the floor. Nawa explains his latest work, "When we think of space, we tend to imagine something extraterrestrial, but Earth is also part of the universe. I created this piece with the activities of living creatures on Earth in mind." Also on the same floor is the exhibition's highlight: teamLab's projection mapping piece, "Possessed Waterfall, Satellite Gravity," a 19-meter-tall waterfall. A life-size model of the Daichi-2 satellite is placed in the center of the spacious space, projecting water particles pouring down from above and being attracted by the satellite's gravity. The water isn't simply flowing, but rather moving in a meticulously calculated manner. "For many people, connection to space is often thought of as an abstract system. This time, I tried to express this relationship between space and humans through my work," says Inoko.
In addition to this work, teamLab is also exhibiting "Sefuri ILC High School!", a promotional video produced at the request of Fukuoka and Saga prefectures, which are aiming to host the International Linear Collider (ILC), an elementary particle physics experimental facility.
The second basement floor also features photographs by photographer Nishizawa Jo showing the Epsilon Rocket's production process, various colorful rockets by the "Natsu no Rocket Team," and works by "SPACE FILMS," which produces commercials in space. In the "Space Dance in the Tube" corner, visitors can experience zero gravity by passing through a hammock-like bag hanging from the ceiling.


【Event Information】
Mission [Space x Art] - Beyond Cosmology
Dates: June 7th to August 31st
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Address: 4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (until 21:00 on July 18th and 25th, and August 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th)
Admission: 1,300 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for university students, vocational school students, and those 65 and over, 800 yen for junior high and high school students, free for elementary school students and younger
Closed: Mondays (open on July 12th), July 22nd