Drawing on the Water Surface: Dance of koi and you

Included with teamLab Planets tickets

Timings

RECOMMENDED DURATION

2 hours

Visitors exploring immersive digital art installation at TeamLab Planets Tokyo.

Step into 'Drawing on the Water Surface', where colorful digital koi swim across a shallow infinity pool. As you walk through knee-deep water, your presence influences the koi, which burst into seasonal blossoms – cherry, sunflower, or maple – upon contact. With light, reflection, and motion intertwining in real time, the experience is a poetic fusion of nature and digital art that unfolds with each visitor’s movement.

What to expect at Drawing on the Water Surface exhibit

Barefoot immersion in water

Walk into a vast pool flooded just above your ankles, where your movement disturbs the equilibrium and engages the installation. The sensation of water combined with light and sound sharpens your awareness, grounding you in the present moment.

Reactive digital koi

As you pass, koi dash away and bloom into flowers (cherry blossoms, sunflowers, autumn leaves) that change with the season. These koi are not pre-recorded animations but are rendered in real-time, meaning they never repeat the same movement twice.

Ever‑changing scenery

No two visits are alike – color, composition, and koi behavior adapt to the crowd and seasons, making each experience fresh. Even returning at different times of day can produce new reflections and emotional tones based on lighting and crowd flow.

Photogenic, meditative space

Dark, mirror-like surroundings reflect vibrant colors and movement, inviting slow, mindful engagement and stunning photo moments. The blending of your reflection with the art creates a surreal illusion where the boundaries between self and environment blur.