Designed for post-Expo reuse, the installation can be disassembled and reconfigured for future sites, aligning with the Expo’s sustainability framework and extending its operational life beyond 2025. The lighting design and product development were led by Hisato Ogata, Ryo Kobayashi, Tatsuya Narita, Daiki Nakamori, and Minoru Ito, with additional contributions from Keisuke Oyama and Taro Yumiba.
Installed inside the pavilion’s column-free space, Clathra forms a freestanding structure composed of multiple circuit boards and frames. The system defines a 10-metre-diameter, 30-metre-circumference, 2.5-metre-high circular theatre, visible from all directions. Its 320,000 LEDs are arranged to create the perception of light suspended in space rather than confined to a screen surface.
The installation visualises the 3.8-billion-year continuity of life through gradual light modulation and spatial 3D sound. Upon entering, visitors see their silhouettes appear within the structure, dissolve into particles of light, and transition into a narrative sequence. The first chapter focuses on symbiosis and altruism among primitive cells, while the second chapter traces the diversification of life across marine, terrestrial, and aerial ecosystems, covering plants, fungi, and animals.
Despite its size, the system’s LED brightness is intentionally restrained to maintain a dark, contemplative environment. Through careful component selection and circuit design, total power consumption remains comparable to that of a single household hair dryer.
