teamLab: Digitized Fukuyama Castle | teamLab

PAST EXHIBITION

Dec 02, 2022 - Jan 29, 2023Fukuyama Castle, Hiroshima

PAST EXHIBITION

Dec 02, 2022 - Jan 29, 2023Fukuyama Castle, Hiroshima

teamLab: Digitized Fukuyama Castle
Fukuyama Castle was built in 1622, at the beginning of the Edo period when peace was restored, and was the last large-scale castle built at the time. During the Meiji era (1868 - 1912), Fukuyama Castle managed to avoid the castle demolition movement promulgated by the government, and its castle tower was designated a National Treasure. However, it burned down due to the air raids of the Second World War, and was reconstructed in 1966, along with the bathhouse and Tsukimi Yagura (a two-story turret) located within the walls of the castle grounds. In August 2022, the iron paneling, which is said to be the only one of its kind in Japan, was restored on the northern side of the castle in time for Fukuyama Castle’s 400th anniversary.

This exhibition is a part of teamLab’s Digitized City art project, in which teamLab explores how non-material digital technology can turn a city and its buildings into art without physically altering it.

teamLab: Digitized Fukuyama Castle will transform the grounds and historic castle of Fukuyama into an art space that transforms interactively. The artworks are influenced by the wind and rain, as well as by the behavior of people, making nature and the people become a part of the artworks, and a part of the long continuity of time. 

The artworks, people, and nature; the self and others; the past and the present; all form a continuity without boundaries.

ARTWORKS

Autonomous Resonating Life

The resisting and resonating ovoids are autonomous. When an ovoid is pushed over by people or blown by the wind, it rises back up as the color of its light changes and it emits a tone specific to that color. The surrounding ovoids respond one after another, continuously changing to the same color and emitting the same tone. The light then continues to resonate through the nearby Resonating Trees. Perhaps people will become more aware of the existence of others in the same space.

When the wind is not blowing and the people nearby are not interacting with the ovoids, their lights begin to blink slowly.

Animals of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives in the Stone Wall - Fukuyama Castle

Fukuyama Castle is built on a low hill upon three levels of stone walls, and its three-tiered construction, named Hitomi-dan, was considered an ideal military strategy back in the Edo period. Most of the original stone walls remain to this day.

The animals are formed from the stone walls and the flowers that bloom and die in a continuous cycle. When people touch the animals, the petals scatter. If people continue to touch them, the petals of the animals will scatter, and the animals will die and fade away.

Forest of Autonomous Resonating Life

The densely packed, standing ovoids of light are autonomous. When an ovoid is pushed over by people moving through or blown down by the wind, it rises back up as the color of its light changes and emits a tone specific to that color. The surrounding ovoids respond one after another, continuously changing to the same color and emitting the same tone.

When the wind is not blowing and the people nearby are not interacting with the ovoids, their lights begin to blink slowly.

Autonomous Resonating Life on the Stones of Oblivion - Fukuyama Castle

The resisting and resonating ovoids, placed on the foundation stones of the former castle, are autonomous. When an ovoid is pushed over by people or blown by the wind, it rises back up as the color of its light changes and emits a tone specific to that color. The surrounding ovoids respond one after another, continuously changing to the same color and emitting the same tone.

Walk, Walk, Walk - Fukuyama Castle

A group of anonymous and diverse figures walk along the stone walls of Fukuyama Castle.

Viewers will make choices, as they confront the figures.

“Hoho kore dojo” is a Zen expression on how every step is a place to learn. The figures in the artwork walk endlessly while confronting new situations. When people walk towards the figures, they will also confront new situations or new characters along their way.

The artwork is not a pre-recorded image that is played back: it is created by a computer program that continuously renders the work in real time. Previous visual states can never be replicated, and will never reoccur. The picture at this moment can never be seen again.

Resonating Trees

The trees shine brightly. The light of each tree is autonomous, blinking as if breathing slowly.

The light transmitted from Autonomous Resonating Life causes the trees’ lights to change color, and a tone specific to that color resonates out. The light of a 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.

Enso on the Fushimi Yagura Turret - Fukuyama Castle

The Fushimi Yagura turret was relocated from Fushimi Castle in Kyoto, and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. In this artwork, Enso is drawn infinitely on this Fushimi Yagura turret.

The black lines drawn with light express the absence of light, and cannot be distinguished from the shadows of the stone walls that have been weathered over the past several hundred years. The black calligraphy and the black shadows created by the long passing of time become one, infinitely drawing Enso on the stone walls.
Enso blurs the physical boundaries of the Fushimi Yagura turret, and creates a new time space.

Enso is the Zen practice of drawing a circle with a single brushstroke. This artwork depicts Enso drawn as Spatial Calligraphy. As the three-dimensional stroke rotates, there are moments when its circular shape is revealed.
Spatial Calligraphy is a form of calligraphy drawn in space that teamLab has been exploring since it was founded. The artwork reconstructs calligraphy in three-dimensional space to express the depth, speed, and power of the brushstroke.

Back in ancient times, Enso was drawn in space using sticks, to symbolize the concepts of enlightenment, truth, the universe, and equality, in a figurative manner. The circle is also a reflection of the viewer’s inner self, thus its interpretation depends on the viewer.

Sketch Generals

A park where historical generals drawn by everyone gather together. The figures featured in this artwork are associated with Fukuyama and General Mizuno Katsunari.

Color in a general on the paper provided, such as Mizuno Katsunari, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Kuroda Nagamasa, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Abe Masahiro, Mori Motonari, Mori Terumoto. See the picture you have drawn come to life in the massive park in front of you.

If you touch a general, their famous quote will appear in a speech bubble.

■How to interact with the artwork
1: Draw and color in your favorite general.
2: Scan the colored drawing.
3: Watch the historical figures come to life as they walk around the park.
4: Touch a general to read their famous quote.

Tenshu Kuruwa

The musical experience changes depending on the pace at which you walk across the Tenshu Kuruwa, the compound where the main tower of Fukuyama Castle stands.

Breathing Resonating Stone Wall - Fukuyama Castle

The stone walls at the front of the Honmaru, the principal castle compound in which the Sujigane Gomon gate (a National Important Cultural Property) is located, shines brightly.
The light of the walls is autonomous, blinking slowly. When a person stands nearby, the light shines even more brightly and emits a tone, spreading out across the walls.

Cognitive Solidified Sparks

We do not perceive the world we see, we see the world we perceive.
A sphere made of accumulated rays of light.The light radiates from the center in infinite fine rays, creating its spherical shape. The light source remains motionless, yet the countless lines emitting from it wriggle continuously.
The sphere has no surface boundary, and the perception of the boundary between the artwork and the body is ambiguous. When you try to touch the sphere, it reacts, but since it does not have a physical boundary, your hand goes into the sphere.
What is this sphere? Why do the rays of lines wriggle?Our world is within us.
And if we perceive this sphere made of accumulated lines, the world we perceive will expand, and we may see the spheres of accumulated lines in our daily lives. As the world you perceive changes, the way you see the world goes on to change.

VENUE MAP

Enlarge

1
Cognitive Solidified Sparks
2
Autonomous Resonating Life on the Stones of Oblivion - Fukuyama Castle
3
Autonomous Resonating Life
4
Resonating Trees
5
Forest of Autonomous Resonating Life
6
Tenshu Kuruwa
7
Animals of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives in the Stone Wall - Fukuyama Castle
8
Breathing Resonating Stone Wall - Fukuyama Castle
9
Enso on the Fushimi Yagura Turret - Fukuyama Castle
10
Walk, Walk, Walk - Fukuyama Castle
11
Sketch Generals

1
Cognitive Solidified Sparks
2
Autonomous Resonating Life on the Stones of Oblivion - Fukuyama Castle
3
Autonomous Resonating Life
4
Resonating Trees
5
Forest of Autonomous Resonating Life
6
Tenshu Kuruwa
7
Animals of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives in the Stone Wall - Fukuyama Castle
8
Breathing Resonating Stone Wall - Fukuyama Castle
9
Enso on the Fushimi Yagura Turret - Fukuyama Castle
10
Walk, Walk, Walk - Fukuyama Castle
11
Sketch Generals

SKETCH FACTORY

Turn your own drawing into a souvenir to take home with you. The historical figures you draw and bring to life in Sketch Generals will be made into an original tin badge.

VISIT US

Venue Details

teamLab: Digitized Fukuyama Castle

Term

Dec 02, 2022 - Jan 29, 2023

Hours

17:30 - 21:30 *Last Entry at 21:00

ACCESS

Address

Fukuyama Castle
Hiroshima, Fukuyama, Marunouchi, 1 Chome−8

Address in local language:

福山城
広島県福山市丸之内一丁目８番

Enlarge

5 min walk from JR Fukuyama Station (North Exit)
*There are no parking lots available. Please use public transportation.

Tel

082-222-133 (Weekday 10:00-17:00)

Notes

Regarding Entry
・A ticket specific to this exhibition is required to enter. Visitors who are already inside the Fukuyama Castle grounds will be asked to exit the venue at 17:00, and purchase a separate ticket for the exhibition.
・This exhibition does not include entry inside Fukuyama Castle Museum, O-yudono, and Tsukimi Yagura Turret.
・The venue is dark with many steps, stairs, and unpaved areas, so comfortable footwear such as sneakers is recommended.
・Please note that there are areas that are difficult to access for persons with physical disabilities, wheelchair users, and strollers. For wheelchair users, please go to the North entrance and ask a member of staff. Rental wheelchairs are not available. Strollers can be parked at the designated area near the main entrance.
・Elementary school students must be accompanied by an adult.
・In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, admission may be limited depending on the crowd. Please note that entry may not be possible due to limited opening hours.
・Please refrain from visiting the venue if you feel unwell or are drunk, or if you are in any state that may disturb other visitors’ experiences.

Visits
There are no parking lots available. Please use public transportation.

Tickets
・Unless the exhibition is canceled, tickets will not be reimbursed under any circumstances.
・Resale of tickets is prohibited. The organizer will not be held responsible for any problems caused by resale.

Cancelation due to inclement weather
The exhibition may be temporarily canceled in case of inclement weather. For updates, please check this website and the exhibition's official Twitter account: @teamlabfukuyama

Prevention measures against Covid-19
Please respect the following measures to help prevent the spread of Covid-19:
- Wear a mask at all times
- Temperature check
- Hand disinfection
- Hiroshima COVID-19 Notification QR registration
- Social distancing

Valuables
Please keep an eye on valuables and personal belongings. The organizer will not be held responsible for any theft or loss.

Injuries
Please watch your step as the exhibition venue is dark.
The organizer and the venue will not be held responsible for any accidents that may occur at the venue.

No Smoking
Smoking at the venue is strictly prohibited.

Food and drinks
Eating and drinking at the venue is prohibited.

Trash free park
Please take home your trash for environmental preservation.

Pets
Except assistance dogs, any type of animal is not allowed at the venue.

Others
・Please be aware that you may be included in photographs and videos shot by the organizers. The resulting assets, including still photographs, videos, and audio recordings may be used as news and promotional material.
・The exhibition period and opening hours may change or be canceled depending on the situation of Covid-19.
・Please take care not to damage any property at the venue, where there are many Important Cultural Properties.

NEWS

Featured on Hype Art, Dec 2,2022

teamLab Transforms Historic Castle Into an Interactive Art Space

For one of its latest projects, teamLab presents its Digitized Fukuyama Castle exhibition at a historic fortress located in Fukuyama, Hiroshima. Initially built in 1622 at the beginning of the Edo period as the last large-scale castle of its time, Fukuyama Castle is designated as one of Japan’s National Treasures. The original castle was demolished due to air raids during the Second World War and was later reconstructed with distinct features including restored iron paneling which is said to be the only one of its kind in the country.(Excerpt from the text)

ARTIST

teamLab

teamLab (f. 2001) is an international art collective. Their collaborative practice seeks to navigate the confluence of art, science, technology, and the natural world. Through art, the interdisciplinary group of specialists, including artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians, and architects, aims to explore the relationship between the self and the world, and new forms of perception.

In order to understand the world around them, people separate it into independent entities with perceived boundaries between them. teamLab seeks to transcend these boundaries in our perceptions of the world, of the relationship between the self and the world, and of the continuity of time. Everything exists in a long, fragile yet miraculous, borderless continuity.

teamLab’s works are in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; National Gallery of Australia, Canberra;  Amos Rex, Helsinki; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Asian Art Museum, San Francisco; Borusan Contemporary Art Collection, Istanbul; and Asia Society Museum, New York, among others.

teamlab.art

Biographical Documents

teamLab is represented by Pace Gallery, Martin Browne Contemporary and Ikkan Art.

Organizers

RCC　BROADCASTING　CO.,LTD.

Co-organizers

Fukuyama Castle 400th Anniversary Project Executive Committee

Special Sponsors

FUKUYAMA TRANSPORTING CO.,LTD.
FOUNDATION SHIBUYA IKUEIKAI

Supporters

Hiroshima Tourism Association（HIT）
THE CHUUGOKU SHINBUN