Kyoto has unveiled its newest cultural attraction with the opening of teamLab Biovortex, marking the largest permanent installation by the renowned digital art collective in Japan. The immersive art space, which officially opened on October 7, offers visitors an unprecedented experience that aims to dissolve the traditional boundaries between observer and artwork in Japan's ancient capital.
The exhibition showcases more than 50 immersive digital artworks spread across an expansive 10,000 square meters (107,639 square feet) of space. The installation has been drawing diverse crowds since its opening, attracting everyone from families with toddlers to elderly visitors, all seeking to experience this novel blend of art and technology.
One of the most striking installations, titled "Morphing Continuum," features countless glowing spheres that float through space while a monumental sculpture emerges from the ground and drifts in midair. The sculpture continuously shifts and reshapes itself in direct response to visitors' movements, creating a dynamic and ever-changing artistic experience.
"Viewers become one with the sculpture, while the boundaries between themselves and artwork grow indistinct and float in air," explained teamLab founder Toshiyuki Inoko. "It creates an experience unlike anything humanity has ever made in terms of material objects — something that defies ordinary expectations. I think the artworks offer an experience which expands human perceptions."
Visitors have expressed amazement at the emotional intensity and physical immersion that the Biovortex experience provides. Dimitri VanCorstanje, a 25-year-old tourist from the Netherlands, described his reaction as "just wonderful," adding that "it immersed me more than just with my eyes."
TeamLab, founded in 2001 by a collaborative group of artists, engineers, and architects, has significantly expanded its reach beyond Japan's borders over the past two decades. The collective now operates installations from New York to Singapore and Jeddah, consistently attracting millions of visitors annually to their groundbreaking exhibitions.
The group's success is perhaps best exemplified by teamLab Planets in Tokyo, which achieved a remarkable milestone by setting the Guinness World Record as the world's most visited museum dedicated to a single art group. The Tokyo installation welcomed an impressive 2,504,264 visitors during the fiscal year 2023, demonstrating the global appeal of teamLab's innovative approach to digital art.
The opening of teamLab Biovortex in Kyoto represents a significant addition to Japan's cultural landscape, combining the city's rich historical heritage with cutting-edge technological artistry. The installation continues teamLab's mission to create transformative experiences that challenge conventional notions of art consumption and audience participation.
