Microbes Actually are All Around

Before forming Veig, Kosuke Katano and Christoph D.D. Rupprecht supervised the design and construction of the indoor garden at Miraikan – The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation’s “Microbes Actually are All Around” exhibition. The exhibition, a permanent display envisioned by Kohei Ito, the CEO of BIOTA Inc., was collaboratively designed with Yosuke Nishio and Aoi Yoshida. The space, a windowless area lit only by LED lighting, mirrored the dark, poorly ventilated forest floor of Japanese forests. Plants that thrive in such conditions were carefully selected and utilized. The ground was layered with leaves, roots, branches, and soil to maintain stable humidity and temperature, while logs not only provided seating for visitors but also served as habitats for other organisms.

During the exhibition, visitors witnessed the cycle of life and death, observing the decomposition of plants and the emergence of new life and microorganisms. A distinctive feature of the exhibition was the scattering of leaves and wood, which promoted the growth of microbes. This setup provided a unique visual representation of the typically elusive microbial activity, offering visitors a tangible insight into the dynamics of microbial life as they observed fungi emerging from decomposing organic material.

Photo: Miraikan