teamLab and Saga Merry-go-round Exhibition | teamLab

Universe of Water Particles is a virtual waterfall created in a virtual 3-D space using teamLab’s concept of ultrasubjective space, a term that refers to the depiction of space found in premodern Japanese painting.

Computer-generated water consisting of hundreds of thousands of water particles is virtually poured onto a virtually sculpted rock. The computer calculates the movement of the particles to produce a simulation of water that flows in accordance with the laws of physics. Lines are drawn in relation to a selection of 0.1% of the particles. The sinuousness of the lines depends on the overall interaction of the water particles.

In premodern Japanese painting, oceans, rivers, and other bodies of water were expressed using a series of lines. These lines give the impression of movement and life, as though water was a living entity. This form of expression leads us to explore why premodern people sensed life in rivers and oceans. Universe of Water Particles fuses the objective world of today’s knowledge with the subjective world of premodern people.

When viewing this artwork, regardless of the fact that the waterfall is a reproduction of physical phenomena, it can be possible to feel a sense of life in the collection of lines.

If, when viewing this artwork—as opposed to a video of a waterfall shot with a video camera—people feel the barrier between themselves and the waterfall dissolve, they become immersed in the work as if the waterfall is luring them in. Perhaps we can find a connection to the way premodern Japanese people perceived the world and consequently behaved towards it.

If we regard ourselves as part of nature, and consider nature as something not just to be observed, it is possible to feel that there is no boundary between ourselves and nature.

A digital installation in three dimensions on seven screens.

This artwork explores Japanese spatial awareness. It exists in a three-dimensional space that we call ultrasubjective space. The Japanese mythical bird Yatagarasu,* rendered in light, flies around the space leaving trails of light in its path, creating spatial calligraphy. As the crows chase and are chased by one another through the air, they turn into flowers and eventually scatter.

The Itano Circus is a unique technique pioneered by creator animator Ichiro Itano. In this technique, a screen is packed to capacity with swarms of flying missiles that are drawn in a completely distorted perspective. These distortions give the audience a stronger sense of dynamic movement and impact. Through ultra-high-speed camera work and staging that envelops the viewer’s perspective, this technique creates an overwhelmingly beautiful image.

In this digital artwork, an homage to the Itano Circus, teamLab has recreated this distortion of space formerly used in 2-D animation in a 3-D space. This is an exploration of 1) what sort of logical structure of perception constitutes this distortion of space pioneered by Japan’s animators, and 2) the hypothesis that this is in line with the continuous tradition of Japanese spatial perception. By recreating this distortion in a 3-D space, teamLab widens the perspectival viewpoint. This work is also an experiment in visual experience, as it divides the viewer’s perspective while deploying divided perspective into 3-D space.

*Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow, is a creature found in Japanese mythology. It is believed to represent the sun and the will of Heaven.

글자마다 각자의 세계가 있다. 사람들이 글자에 손을 대면, 그 글자만의 세계가 나타나며, 이들이 서로 영향을 주고 받으며 하나의 세계를 만들어 간다. 비나 눈, 꽃들은 바람의 영향을 받으며, 새들은 나무에 앉고, 나비는 꽃을 찾아 날아든다.다른 작품이 글자에 닿아도 그 글자만의 세계가 나타난다. 사람들에 의해 생겨난 세계가 또 다른 사람들이나 다른 작품에 의해 생겨난 세계와 영향을 주고 받으며 새로운 그림을 만들어 간다.지금 이 순간에 나타난 모습은 두 번 다시는 경험할 수 없다.
작품은 때때로 아주 멀리까지 퍼져나가기도 한다.

본 작품은 ‘생명은 생명의 힘으로 산다’(2011)의 표면을 벗겨내, 그 구조를 드러내고 있다.

컴퓨터는 3차원적인 물체의 형상을 격자로 그려진 추상적이며 고차원적인 정보로 표현한다. 3차원으로 그려진 물체는 그 표면을 벗겨내면 격자의 집합으로 이루어져 있다. 작품은 표면을 벗겨낸 상태, 즉 구조가 그려진 추상적이며 고차원적인 정보의 상태를 그대로 표현해내고 있다.

자연의 축복과 위협, 그리고 문명의 축복과 위협은 모두 끊임없이 연결되어 있다. 절대적인 악의를 갖고 있는 것도 아니며, 그렇다고 해서 완벽하게 아름다운 것만도 아니다. 알기 쉬운 해답이 존재하는 것도 아니며, 감정적으로 쉽게 정리할 수 있는 문제도 아니다. 하지만 어떠한 상황이 오더라도 ‘살아가는 것’은 전부 긍정하고 싶다. 생명은 아름답다.

teamLab 설립 후 꾸준히 작업을 이어온 공간에 쓰는 서(書), ‘공서(空書)’. 서예의 먹자국이 갖는 깊이나 속도, 힘의 강약과 같은 요소들을 새롭게 해석해 입체적으로 재구축한 작품이다. 나비와 새, 꽃 등의 동식물이 머물며 변화하는 계절과 더불어 생명을 표현했다. ‘산천초목실개성불(山川草木悉皆成佛, 살아있는 모든 것은 성불한다)’이라는 말에서 알 수 있 듯, 선종(禪宗)에서는 어떠한 것에도 구애받지 않은 자연 그대로의 모습이야말로 부처 그 자체라고 생각한다. 작품은 현대를 살아가는 우리들이 고찰하는 생명의 마음을 형상화하고 있다.

Created from 12 screens, this illustrated story features a theme of "the clash, cycle, and symbiosis between nature and culture.

The world of the artwork is created in three-dimensional space on the computer, visualizing a ultrasubjective space within 12 perspectives. The surface peels away, and the other side of the work rises to the surface.

Three-dimensional shapes are represented by a computer as abstract, higher-order information described by a mesh construction. When the surfaces of those three-dimensional rendered objects are peeled away, it is apparent that they are created from various combinations of mesh structures. By peeling away the surface, the underside of the work is revealed allowing a glimpse into the creative process behind it.

1: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 Capital City & Noble
The capital city in all its wondrous glory.

2: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 Disaster & Prosperity
An evil disease spreads throughout the capital.

3: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 Mountain People & Festival
Hikaru Genji follows the disease and ends up in a mountain village. To celebrate the blessings of nature, the village holds a festival.

4: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 Daily Life & Forest
The village festival is over and the village returns to ordinary life. Even under the influence of the disease, the people bravely live on. They receive the benefits of nature, living in abundance and cutting down trees to develop their civilization.

5: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 The Spirit Tree & Yamata no Orochi
The mountain village is asked to provide large amounts of timber to further develop the city. The villagers cut down a large tree deep within the mountains. When the sacred tree is downed, suddenly, Yamata no Orochi appears from the fallen tree. Yamata no Orochi is furious with rage and causes heavy rain and flooding in the valley.

6: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 Yamata no Orochi & The Gods of the Forest
Yamata no Orochi knocks down the houses of the mountain village. Following the rampage of Yamata no Orochi, the gods of the forest appear and begin to attack the people.

7: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 Weapons & Battlefield
The mountain villagers ask samurai to come to the mountain village, and a battle between the warriors, the gods of the forest, and Yamata no Orochi begins.

8: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 Destruction & Victory
After a fierce battle, the warriors make use of the developments of civilization, such as flaming arrows and swords. Eventually the samurai warriors begin to be victorious.

9: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 Hunger & Wasteland
After the battle, the burned-out forest is a wasteland. The benefits of nature are lost and the mountain village suffers hunger and despair.

10: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 Flower & Corpse
Hikaru Genji is surrounded by the dead bodies of the gods of the forest and Yamata no Orochi. Despairing, he spreads seeds over the corpse of Yamata no Orochi. Then, from the dead corpse, buds appear and numerous flowers bloom. The flowers grow over the trees and the forest is gradually restored.

11: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 Festival & Forest
The people of the mountain begin once again to reap the benefits of the forest and civilization is restored. The people of the village are determined to go on and live in harmony with the forest and the festival is once again held.

12: Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 City & Festival
The evil disease subsides in the capital city. The people still do not know the cause of the disease, but they carry out a festival of thanks at this auspicious change of fortune.

쌓거나 붙이면 색이 변하는 블록입니다.
블록의 볼록한 면과 오목한 면을 조합하면, 볼록한 면에서 오목한 면으로 정보가 전달되어 오목한 블록의 색이 바뀝니다. 예를 들어 볼록한 빨간 블록과 오목한 파란 블록을 조합하면, 오목한 파란 블록의 색이 보라색으로 변합니다. 블록의 색은 연결할 때마다 계속해서 변화합니다.