teamLab Unveils “Biovortex” Exhibition in Kyoto, Redefining Art Experience

An innovative exhibition titled “Biovortex” has opened in Kyoto, Japan, marking a significant evolution in immersive art experiences. Created by the acclaimed art collective teamLab, the installation aims to eliminate the boundaries between observers and art, inviting visitors into a world where interaction transforms perception.

The exhibition officially opened on October 7, 2023, and spans over 10,000 square metres (approximately 107,639 square feet). “Biovortex” features more than 50 immersive digital artworks designed to engage visitors of all ages, from young children to the elderly.

One of the standout installations, “Morphing Continuum,” captivates attendees with its display of numerous glowing spheres that float in midair. As visitors move through the space, a monumental sculpture emerges, constantly reshaping itself in response to their interactions. This transformative experience blurs the line between viewer and artwork, as teamLab founder Toshiyuki Inoko articulates: “Viewers become one with the sculpture, while the boundaries between themselves and artwork grow indistinct and float in air. It creates an experience unlike anything humanity has ever made in terms of material objects.”

Visitors have expressed their astonishment at the emotional depth and physical immersion the exhibition offers. One attendee, Dimitri VanCorstanje, a 25-year-old tourist from the Netherlands, described the experience as “just wonderful,” noting that it engaged him beyond visual observation.

Founded in 2001, teamLab has gained international recognition for its unique blend of art, technology, and nature. The collective has expanded its reach well beyond Japan, with installations from New York to Singapore and Jeddah, attracting millions of art enthusiasts each year.

In Tokyo, one of teamLab’s permanent exhibitions, teamLab Planets, achieved a remarkable milestone by setting the Guinness World Record for the world’s most visited museum dedicated to a single art group, with 2,504,264 visitors recorded in the fiscal year of 2023.

The launch of “Biovortex” not only highlights teamLab’s commitment to innovation in the arts but also reinforces Kyoto’s cultural significance as a hub for contemporary and traditional art forms. Visitors to the exhibition can expect a transformative journey that challenges conventional notions of art and invites them to engage with creativity in an entirely new way.