teamLab Planets TOKYO Expands, Offering 20+ New Interactive Installations
Table of Contents
- 1. teamLab Planets TOKYO Expands, Offering 20+ New Interactive Installations
- 2. Exploring the athletics Forest: Where Movement Becomes art
- 3. Catching and Collecting Extinct Forest: A Journey Through Digital Discovery
- 4. A Place to Immerse and Create
- 5. What inspired teamLab to focus on nature as a theme in their new installations?
Get ready to dive even deeper into the mesmerizing world of digital art! teamLab Planets TOKYO in Toyosu is welcoming visitors to a brand-new, expanded experience, opening its doors on January 22nd. The expansion, almost 1.5 times the size of the original museum, showcases over 20 captivating interactive installations that blend art,physical interaction,and education,with a strong focus on nature.
Among the highlights are the captivating Catching and Collecting Forest, the serene Orchid Glass House, and the dynamic Athletics Forest. These spaces invite visitors to engage their senses and bodies in completely new ways, blurring the lines between reality and the digital realm.
Exploring the athletics Forest: Where Movement Becomes art
At the heart of the expansion lies the Athletics Forest, a space where movement transforms into a work of art. As Toshiyuki Inoko, teamLab’s founder, notes, “visitors can perceive the world through their bodies.” the forest floor is alive with interactive installations that respond to every touch, jump, and climb. Two new additions, Autonomous Abstraction and existence in the Flow Creates Vortices, use light and movement to create mesmerizing visual displays. In Autonomous Abstraction, dotted lights blink and change color in a mesmerizing dance, while Existence in the Flow Creates Vortices sees visitors leave trails of swirling patterns that ripple and grow as they navigate against a current of light.
visitors can navigate fields of spinning spheres that pause when touched, leap across flexible surfaces that trigger warps in space-time, and even balance on a series of colorful bars suspended in mid-air. This space is a playground for the senses, where art and physical engagement converge to create a truly unique experience.
Catching and Collecting Extinct Forest: A Journey Through Digital Discovery
The Catching and Collecting Extinct Forest offers a captivating journey through a world of digital wildlife.Visitors can physically explore the forest while using smartphones to scan and “capture” digital representations of extinct animals using Research Arrows or Research Nets.These digital catches are then stored in a personalized collection book, making this a truly interactive educational experience. Inoko emphasizes the natural human inclination for exploration and discovery, stating, “Physically exploring with others, discovering and catching something, then taking the chance to broaden interests based on what was caught. This is what we have been doing naturally over the long course of human history. For humanity, the acts of catching and gathering are fun, educational, and part of life.”
A Place to Immerse and Create
The expansion goes beyond just viewing—it encourages visitors to take part.the Living Art Store offers orchids cultivated within the museum itself, while the Sketch Factory turns personal artwork into unique items like tote bags or T-shirts.this emphasis on co-creation blurs the line between art and everyday life.
Outdoor spaces have also been enhanced. Visitors can enjoy Vegan Ramen UZU at the Black Emptiness Table, accompanied by the mesmerizing Reversible Rotation in the Black Emptiness, a spatial calligraphy artwork that challenges perspectives.The orchid Glass House provides a tranquil setting to savor tea or sake amidst regrown orchids from the iconic Floating Flower Garden. And the gentle luminescence and synchronized tones of Nursery Lamps in Spontaneous Order create a calming atmosphere, seamlessly blending art with the rituals of daily life.
teamLab Planets TOKYO’s expansion promises a deeper, more immersive experience, inviting visitors to explore, interact, and create within a universe of digital wonder.
What inspired teamLab to focus on nature as a theme in their new installations?
Archyde News: an Interview with teamLab’s Founder, Toshiyuki Inoko
Archyde News, Tokyo
Interviewer (INT): Welcome back, Archyde readers! Today, we have an exclusive interview with the esteemed founder of teamLab, Toshiyuki Inoko. Mr. Inoko, thank you for joining us.
Toshiyuki Inoko (TON): Thank you for having me.I’m delighted to discuss our latest expansion at teamLab Planets TOKYO.
INT: Let’s dive right in. teamLab Planets TOKYO has expanded, offering over 20 new interactive installations. Can you give us a sneak peek into what visitors can expect?
TON: Absolutely. We’ve been working tirelessly to create an even more immersive and thought-provoking experience for our guests. The new installations are a blend of art, physical interaction, and education, with a strong focus on nature. Visitors can expect to engage their senses and bodies in completely new ways, blurring the lines between reality and the digital realm.
INT: One of the standout spaces in this expansion is the Athletics forest. Can you tell us more about that?
TON: Certainly. At the heart of our expansion lies the Athletics Forest,a space where movement transforms into a work of art. We believe that visitors can perceive the world through their bodies, and this installation reflects that philosophy. It’s an interactive ecosystem where your movements influence and shape the digital environment around you. It’s not just about enjoying the experience; it’s about participating and becoming a part of it.
INT: That’s fascinating. How do you envision visitors interacting with these new installations?
TON: We want visitors to feel a sense of exploration and discovery. In the catching and Collecting Forest, as a notable example, guests can “catch” digital flowers that react to their presence and movements. The serene Orchid Glass House provides a space for contemplation and interaction, while the dynamic Athletics Forest encourages play and creativity. Each installation is designed to evoke a different response, but all of them invite visitors to engage with the digital art in a physical way.
INT: The focus on nature is evident throughout the expansions. Can you tell us why that is?
TON: Nature has always been a significant inspiration for our work. We strive to create art that exists within a broader ecosystem, both physical and digital. By doing so, we hope to remind people of their connection to the natural world and the importance of preserving it. The expansions at teamLab Planets TOKYO reflect our ongoing commitment to this theme.
INT: That’s a powerful message to convey through art. what do you hope visitors take away from this new experience at teamLab Planets TOKYO?
TON: I hope that visitors will leave feeling inspired and challenged. I want them to see the world from a different perspective,one where the boundaries between art,nature,and the digital realm are porous and fluid. I hope they’ll carry this new perspective with them as they move through their daily lives.
INT: Thank you, Mr. Inoko, for your time and insight. We can’t wait to explore the new expansion at teamLab Planets TOKYO.
TON: My pleasure. We look forward to welcoming everyone on January 22nd.
Stay tuned to Archyde News for more updates on the world of art and technology. Until next time, keep exploring!
