FEATURED WORKS
Life is Continuous Light - Azalea Valley
teamLab, 2017, Interactive Digitized Nature, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi
The azaleas spread beneath the cliffs of Mt. Mifuneyama in the azalea valley shine brightly. Each azalea's sphere light is autonomous shining brightly and then fading, as if breathing slowly.
When people pass by or approach the azaleas, the color of the light changes and a new color resonates out. Then, the light of that tree radiates out and is transmitted to nearby azaleas in the valley. The propagated light of the azaleas will again resonate, and the color will continue to resonate to nearby azaleas in the valley.
These azaleas are said to have been created by Motozo Sakamoto of the Arima Clan azalea breeding in the late Edo Period during the Tenpo Era (1830 - 1843 C.E.). The azaleas were planted right at the opening of Mifuneyama Rakuen in 1845 C.E.
teamLab, 2014, Interactive Digitized Nature, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi
The trees shine brightly. The light of each tree is autonomous, blinking as if breathing slowly.
When people pass close to the trees, the light changes color, and a tone specific to that color resonates out. The light of the tree is transmitted to the surrounding trees one by one, continuously emitting the same tone.
If light approaches from the trees in the distance, it signifies the presence of people there, making people more aware of the existence of others in the same space.
Peace can be Realized Even without Order
teamLab, 2013-2018, Interactive Digital Installation, Endless, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi, Voices: Yutaka Fukuoka, Yumiko Tanaka
An interactive installation composed of countless life-sized holograms.
The figures depicted in the holograms exist independently from one another. They play instruments and dance, and each individual is influenced by the sounds produced by the figures close to them. There is no lead figure that oversees the crowd, like a conductor in an orchestra, nor does a standard exist. However, spontaneous order phenomenon occurs as the figures influence each other, and their performances gradually sync, eventually achieving harmony.
When a person enters the installation and a figure senses that person, the figure stops performing. The figure passes on this information to other figures close by. After a short period of time, the figure aimlessly starts playing music again, but the harmony has been interrupted by this disturbance. If, however, the viewer stays still or leaves, spontaneous order phenomenon takes place again, creating harmony within the group once more.
In Japan, there is a primitive dance festival called the Awa Odori Festival. Groups of people play music and randomly dance around town. The groups are free to play their own music and dance as they wish, but interestingly for some reason, the music forms a harmony across the whole town. This harmony is born from people subconsciously adapting their performances to the tempo of others that they happen to meet as they dance around town. There is no rule, but the body subconsciously adapts itself for the simple reason of it being pleasurable. Despite the seeming lack of order, once liberated, people experience an extraordinary feeling of peace - perhaps this is how peace was maintained back in ancient times.
With the introduction of the internet, people have become able to freely connect with whomever, whenever they like. The acceleration of this has resulted in the entire world being connected, and the way these connected individuals influence each other has become increasingly important. Contemporary reflections in this new era can be compared to primitive dance experiences, and make us feel the possibility of there being completely different methods of maintaining peace in the future.
The figures that appear in the holograms are anonymous and unknown. This helps the viewer to feel as though they are a part of the installation, and through this experience, perhaps in the future, people will be able to maintain peace in their own ways.
teamLab, 2009, Interactive Ball
"teamLabBall" is an interactive interface that changes color and brightness and emits different sounds depending on the actions of the people around it.
When you touch the spheres, it causes effects such as a change in color, or the generation of a sound. Each sphere is synchronized by wireless P2P (Peer to Peer), so it is possible to change the colors of all of the spheres or to change the color of the lighting of the space. Furthermore, it is possible for directors/designers to change the colors remotely without touching the spheres. Anybody present can take part in the design of the space by tossing the floating spheres. The moment you toss the sphere, you take center stage and that moment is shared by everyone in the space.
Utilizing all teamLabBalls as a common interface allows the creation of a digital space where people can get immersed and feel emotionally involved.
※teamLabBall patent pending.
Autonomous Resonating Life on the Water
teamLab, 2019, Interactive Digital Installation, Endless, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi
The objects standing on the water are autonomous: they shine brightly and then fade as if slowly breathing.
When an object is pushed by people or is blown by the wind and tilts, the color of its light changes, and it emits a sound town specific to that color. The light resonates out radially to the objects nearby. The sound tone resonates out continuously in the same way as the light, spreading throughout the objects.