New Project Revealed by Art Collective Responsible for World-Renowned Museums

When teamLab unveiled its flagship Tokyo venue, teamLab Borderless, in 2018, the collective aimed to revolutionize the way modern art is perceived and experienced. While the extent to which it achieved this goal remains subjective, the commercial success of Borderless was undeniable before its closure in 2022 for a major redevelopment project. Within its inaugural year, the venue attracted 2.3 million visitors, solidifying its status as the world’s most-visited museum dedicated to a single artist, group, or collective at the time.

teamLab’s second Tokyo venture, teamLab Planets, also garnered significant attention, earning recognition from Google as the fifth most searched-for museum globally in 2023. Comprising a diverse ensemble of “ultra-technologists,” including artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, botanists, mathematicians, and architects, the collective has showcased its innovative works in cities like Beijing, Melbourne, New York, London, Singapore, and Taipei.

Amid much anticipation, teamLab Borderless makes its grand return this week in a new upscale high-rise in Tokyo’s Azabudai district. Visitors can anticipate the familiar spectacle of projection graphics, dynamic light displays, and interconnected artworks that respond to viewer interaction and behavior.

Although commonly described as “immersive” and “digital,” teamLab’s exhibitions delve deeper into themes of time, perspective, and the convergence of art and reality. For the collective, digital technology serves as a tool for artistic expression, with immersion emerging as a natural consequence of their creative output.

Takashi Kudo, teamLab’s communications director, embodies the collective’s philosophical approach, emphasizing inquiry over definitive answers. Sitting amidst a hall of mirrors during CNN’s tour, Kudo reflects on the purpose of art in fostering a reflective society that values experience over possession.

In teamLab’s museum design, linearity gives way to a nonlinear experience, echoing Kudo’s circular rhetoric. Each space within the museum, adorned with psychedelic names like “Microcosmoses” and “Infinite Crystal World,” invites visitors on a journey without a prescribed route or methodology—a truly “borderless” experience.

Wandering through teamLab Borderless parallels the Japanese practice of “shinrin-yoku,” or forest bathing, where one surrenders to the environment, allowing it to guide their movements. At every turn, interactive artworks captivate the senses, from projection-mapped floral displays to cascading waves and spectral creatures.

teamLab’s commitment to sensory engagement extends beyond visuals, incorporating fragrant scents, soothing soundscapes, and even a teahouse experience where beverages initiate light projections.

While there may be no singular centerpiece at Borderless, each installation offers a moment of ephemeral beauty—a “ichi-go ichi-e” encounter that can never be replicated. Notably, the new “Light Sculpture” series mesmerizes with its mirrored panels and dynamic light displays, captivating visitors with hypnotic vortices.

The collective’s collaborative spirit, encompassing diverse talents and disciplines, underpins their ability to craft transformative experiences. For teamLab, technology alone is insufficient; it is through collective effort and artistic vision that they seek to challenge perceptions and, perhaps, contribute to societal change.