At the Sumitomo Pavilion, the exhibition “UNKNOWN FOREST: Stories Waiting to be Discovered” was presented.
Many visitors who were unable to enter the pavilion due to the lottery expressed a desire to experience it through video.
In response, we are making the following two videos available online and providing an overview of their contents.
Whether you visited the Sumitomo Pavilion or were unable to do so, we hope you will enjoy experiencing it through these videos.
This story unfolds in the “UNKNOWN FOREST.” Where visitors are guided by a giant Mother Tree. Having lived for thousands of years and approaching the end of her life, the Mother Tree entrusts her final wish to the visitors: to “gather stories of life.” Guided by wind-borne fairies, visitors are led deeper into the forest.
Within the pavilion’s enchanting forest, countless “stories of life”—long unnoticed or unknown to humans—await discovery. Carrying lanterns, visitors freely explore the forest, embarking on an adventure filled with encounters with these stories.
As they wander, visitors come across hidden animals, traces of living creatures, and trees communicating through the soil. Everything unfolds before your eyes, awaiting discovery. Fungi begin to glow and the normally inaudible voices of creatures become audible in response to visitors’ actions and lanterns, creating an immersive, interactive experience that reveals the secret life of the forest.
After passing through the forest, visitors enter the Performing Theater, a vast space approximately 20 meters wide and 7.5 meters tall. The Mother Tree, which has supported and nurtured the UNKNOWN FOREST since ancient times, takes center stage. Here, a story unfolds tracing her journey from her beginning as a tiny seed that awoke in the dark warm soil, revealing fragments of her memories and culminating in her final moments.
A gentle breeze blows as mist drifts through the space. Performers, sound, and computer graphics come together in a dynamic finale. Visitors witnessing the life of the Mother Tree are deeply moved, their senses heightened and their emotions stirred. Through the UNKNOWN FOREST, Sumitomo Pavilion offered lessons on living in harmony with forests and trees—novel insights opening up fresh vistas for us humans—alongside exhibits that inspire hope for the future and immersive, dreamlike entertainment experiences.
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