Metamorphose
Drama of life
reborn in a small world
Hello, who are you?
I am Earth. A part of the Earth.
On Earth, substances arein constant circulation.
Through every act of life, matter flows,
and with its movement, life is nurtured.
In other words, life itself is in perpetual circulation.
The substances that make up your body have traveled through many lives,
over and over and again.
And now they’re part of you.
When you think about it that way,
you’ll see that your whole body is borrowed from Earth.
When you realize that all of your body is on loan from this planet,
and imagine that you are part of the great workings of Earth,
then, you can envision the many lives that came
before yours and the many that will follow.
And finally you will come to appreciate
the immense greatness of Earth itself.
KAMADA Mikiko
Exhibition Contents
"Metamorphose" is an exhibition that expresses the connection between life and the process of substance circulation on the Earth. By witnessing the moment when a beautiful flower decays and the process behind it, you can feel part of the activity in which life is reborn.
The purpose of this exhibition is to feel the mechanism of circulation through your physical senses, rather than merely understanding it in theory, and internalize that feeling. Therefore, the exhibition does not rely totally on digital technology, but aims to help the visitors realize the original state of life by exhibiting natural life forms as they are.
On this Earth, life and the circulation of substances have an inextricable connection, and the existence of each and every human being is incorporated within the fine balance between them. For example, flowers are decomposed by the life activities of microorganisms, and return to soil, which contributes to the development of another life. We would be pleased if you could feel the preciousness of life and the process of its circulation through the state of such never-ending metamorphosis, and realize that human beings are also a part of nature.
The first part,
the space of experience
Here, how flowers are decomposed by microorganisms and take on a new life is shown inside a glass pot. Looking into the four glass pots (flower composts), visitors can intuitively experience the process, and directly feel the circulation of life.
The second part,
the space for a short version
The detailed process of life being reborn in the first part can be observed here through a time-lapse video. This video allows viewers to visually experience the process of flower decomposition and learn that the circulation of substances is part of their own experience.
Back Story
Exhibition panel made by
the work of microorganisms
For this exhibition, materials made by the work of microorganisms are used for the panels covering the stands.
As for materials making up the exhibition stands, we focused on the hypha, which is the main body structure of mushrooms. Material produced based on hyphae has superior sound insulating properties, heat resistance, and moldability to form shape freely. It is also lightweight and is currently attracting attention as a new construction material.
To produce the material, first, a culture medium made by mixing starch and sawdust with the hyphae of an oyster mushroom (which are also edible) attached, is attached to the base of the panel with indented surface. This base is then left in a hot and humid environment for few weeks, and the oyster mushroom grows by extending its hyphae inside the sawdust. By the time the entire base is covered with hyphae, the medium becomes a single cluster, and an integrated layer of hyphae forms on the surface. Then, by quickly drying at this stage, a "hyphae panel" as a stable material is finished.
The process of hyphae growing in uncountable numbers inside the medium and integrating with the sawdust perfectly fit into the exhibition theme. This panel made by the power of microorganisms is also a symbol of life and circulation.
Special contribution: TORII Takumi (Graduate School of Keio University)
Long preparation period and shooting that took several months
Because this exhibition venue is half outside and the exhibition period is long, the preparation to exhibit works made by microorganisms, which is easily influenced by the ambient environment, took a long time. Experiments were repeatedly implemented, such as culturing microorganisms under various amounts of light, photoperiods, and temperatures to compare the speeds of decomposition.
Also, in order to capture the symbolic moments in each of the four phases, various types of flower compost were prepared for shooting, and time-lapse imaging was implemented for six months under a special shooting environment.
This shooting continued to follow the work of microorganisms and their effects, which are not visible in the normal course of time. As a result, a highly impressive time-lapse video was completed, recording the changes and beauty created by microorganisms.
- Time required: Approx. 5 minutes
- No reservation necessary
