Transition
Exhibition for enigma Inc.
The exhibition updates the 1400 year tradition of Japanese flower arrangement, Ikebana, for contemporary spaces. It forms an environment where visitors experience floral art through multiple senses. The open layout without walls allows visitors to walk freely and view installations from various angles, replacing traditional frontal observation. Natural sunlight and responsive lighting shift throughout the day, causing the space and the living flowers to change continuously. The design turns flower viewing into an active and dynamic process.
Download Press Kit № 175004
Download Press Kit № 175004 Exhibition for enigma Inc. by Shuhei Matsuyama to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.
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Transition by Shuhei Matsuyama
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Exhibition by Shuhei Matsuyama
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Shuhei Matsuyama Transition
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Shuhei Matsuyama Exhibition
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enigma Inc Brand Logo
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Unique Properties
An immersive flower exhibition engaging all five senses, tracing 1,400 years of ikebana and the kado philosophy of the life of flowers. Fresh floral works, shifting sunlight, and responsive lighting continuously transform both space and experience. A wall-less, open configuration overturns traditional frontal ikebana viewing, inviting active participation and enabling unrepeatable, time-based engagement with floral art.
Tags
Ikebana, Exhibition Design, Floral Art, Japanese Culture, Immersive Experience, Sustainable Design, Inclusive Design, Expo 2025, Contemporary Art, Spatial Design
Production Technology
The exhibition structure was realized using recyclable resin-based 3D-printed pedestals, minimizing waste and enabling modular reuse for future installations. The lighting design incorporated responsive LED systems to simulate natural transitions. Spatial modeling and daylight simulation were conducted using Unreal Engine to test sun paths and visual conditions, allowing for precise environmental calibration. Materials include wood, recycled steel, and living floral elements.
Design Challenge
Traditional ikebana shows erected one-off timber walls and fixtures, then scrapped them. We challenged that legacy, adopting a reusable system that slashes physical build. Pedestals are 3-D-printed from recyclable resin, designed for quick disassembly, transport, and redeployment, cutting material use and waste. With level floors and wide clearances, the fully barrier-free layout marries sustainability to inclusive design.
Project Duration
The project started on April 13, 2025, and concluded on April 20, 2025. It was exhibited at the “Gallery EAST” of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
Operation Flow
Visitors freely move through the open, wall-less gallery, exploring ikebana arrangements from multiple angles. Natural and dynamic lighting interact with fresh flowers, creating constantly shifting scenes. This spatial and sensory engagement encourages personal interpretation, breaking from the static, front-facing norms of classical ikebana.
Research
In this show we discarded the rear wall once mandatory for classical ikebana and used self-standing fixtures, letting visitors wander freely. Single-use timber walls became reusable, 3-D-printed units of recycled resin, proving ikebana can travel to sites once impossible. Surveys showed 90 % of attendees were first-time ikebana viewers, revealing new audiences. Energized by this success, we are already planning the next “new-generation” flower exhibition.
Inspiration
Ikebana is a centuries-old tradition that unites time-based and spatial art. To honor this duality, we removed the rear wall once deemed essential, shaping a fluid gallery where changing daylight, responsive lighting, and living flowers mingle in shifting layers. Visitors roam freely, viewing each arrangement from many angles while bespoke Unreal-Engine simulations refined sun paths and sightless, letting space and work animate each other.
Image Credits
Image #1-#5: Photographer Kamiya Ryo、Transition: The Origin of Ikebana、 2025. Video Credits: Videographer Mizuno Kai、 Transition: The Origin of Ikebana、 2025.
Project Overview
Transition Exhibition has been a Silver winner in the Cultural Heritage and Culture Industry Design award category in the year 2025 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Silver Recognition
Shuhei Matsuyama was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2026, a testament to excellence of their work Transition Exhibition.
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