Written by Carey Finn
The rumors are true — Kyoto is getting a teamLab museum of its own. Set to open this autumn, teamLab Biovortex Kyoto will be located in Minami Ward — as part of the Kyoto Station Southeast Area urban development project. We went to get a sneak peek — here’s what you can expect.
Like the other teamLab art museums in Japan, teamLab Biovortex Kyoto will “create an experience where visitors immerse their body in artworks that transcend conventional notions of material substances”.
Artwork at teamLab Biovortex Kyoto
As part of its collection, the teamLab in Kyoto will showcase all-new, previously unreleased artwork in Japan. Highlights include the following:
Massless Amorphous Sculpture
A huge floating sculpture that emerges from a sea of bubbles. According to the official description: “It neither sinks to the ground nor rises completely to the ceiling, but instead drifts in the middle of the space.”
Massless Suns and Dark Suns
This artwork is “a group of countless spheres of light”. Responsive to human interaction, when you try to touch a sphere, apparently it will shine brightly, and the surrounding spheres will respond in sequence.
Then, when you look around, you’ll also see dark spheres, “as if darkness has been solidified”. Probably not so easy to capture on camera.
Morphing Continuum
The organizers describe this one as a “sculptural entity created by the order of energy generated by the phenomena of a unique environment” — an existence they call High Order Sculpture. Looks pretty cool to us.
Traces of Life
In keeping with teamLab’s immersive style, this “artwork space becomes one with the people and begins to move, forming traces from their feet that remain for a while”. What’s interesting is that without people in the space, nothing exists other than said space.
Official teaser video for teamLab Biovortex Kyoto
Why Kyoto?
teamLab Biovortex Kyoto is a collaboration with a number of companies in Kyoto and Osaka. The museum will be located on city-owned land in the southeastern area of Kyoto Station.
The new teamLab complex is intended to serve as a “creative hub for generating and disseminating new value”. In addition to the art museum, an art center is being planned — as well as some other attractions. These remain a mystery for the moment.
Keep an eye out for upcoming details such as locations and tickets here.
For more, see the official teamLab Biovortex Kyoto website.
All details taken from the official teamLab Biovortex Kyoto press release, issued on Tuesday, May 27 2025. Further details — including ticket prices — are expected to be released closer to the opening date.
