teamlab’s ocean vortices-inspired installation makes waves at the national gallery of victoria

the triennial of contemporary art and design is underway at the national gallery of victoria (NGV) and a responsive digital installation by teamlab, ‘moving creates vortices and vortices create movement’, is once again, stirring up something otherworldly. 

all images © teamlab, courtesy ikkan art gallery, martin browne contemporary and pace gallery

those interacting in the dark, mirrored space may look beneath them, forget that they are walking and glide across the room. as they continue, their forces, like little islands in water, create flows. when a fast flow appears, rotations are born. higher velocities form a vortex and the vortex distracts viewers from the truth; they are not following the dancing lights; their forces creates them. it’s a beautiful cycle that teamlab has cultivated, a cycle inspired by complicated oceanic terrains, islands, vortices, swirls, organism carcasses and plankton: the self-nurturing cycle of the sea.

a vortex is beginning to form

islands and terrain that do not appear to influence human life actually generates vortices which enriches the seas and the rest of the world. ‘this might be the same for humans.’ says teamlab’s founder toshiyuki inoko. ‘seemingly unrelated people’s behaviours might be contributing in generating a huge movement. in this work, seemingly unrelated movement of the visitors might contribute in creating beautiful vortices and experience.’

the velocity of different movements creates different visual responses

to be included in the permanent collection at the NGV, moving creates vortices and vortices create movement comes to life and transforms under the influence of visitors’ movement. the NGV triennial — a large-scale, gallery wide exhibition of international art, design and architecture — opens on december 15, 2017 and runs till april 15, 2018 in melbourne, australia.

stirring up something otherworldly…

when a fast flow appears, rotations are born

the installation does as its name suggests: moving creates vortices and vortices create movement

movement does not exist without stillness