Based on the philosophy of “Whatever/Whenever® （Whatever you want, whenever you want it）,” luxury lifestyle hotel W Osaka actively collaborates with artists as a way to elevate the stay experience of guests. Last year, PeterLucas became the general manager and expressed his enthusiasm, stating that he wanted to “enhance the appeal of this unique and art-filled facility.” On this third time participating in Osaka Art & Design, W Osaka, together with a new partner, will be opening up new frontiers in experiential art.

A creative journey that began with a sense of unease

In our digital age, information has drastically shortened the distance between us and the world. Yet, as the means to connect with this vast reality remain confined to the narrow window of a display, one artist collective felt a profound sense of unease. Formed in July 2017 by Ryo Takegawa and Shingo Nakamura, xorium utilizes a diverse range of digital technologies to interpret the subtle phenomena and frictions that emerge between people, objects, environments, and social structures. By transforming these hidden interactions into art, they seek a “comfortable coexistence with information.”
For this exhibition, they confront the concept of a “controlled world.” While society was once neatly managed by established rules, this single-layered control has reached its limit in a modern era defined by information overload, AI-driven efficiency, and intersecting values. xorium is convinced that the coming era is not one of being controlled, but one of living through fluid “relationships” with others and our surroundings. They have entrusted this answer to the phenomenon of “bubbles”̶drifting and ever-changing in form.

A microcosm of modern times depicted by bubbles that burst, expand, and grow

What xorium values most in its creative process is for viewers to understand the work through pure intuition. To ensure the concept resonates deeply without the need for verbal explanation, they conduct countless experiments, from material selection to the refinement of their techniques.
This installation features a basin-like device that continuously generates a stream of bubbles. Each individual bubble represents us̶human beings as independent 'individuals.' These bubbles touch, huddle together, and sometimes repel one another, eventually forming a single, expansive current.
As the fluorescent-tinted bubbles catch the ultraviolet light, their boundaries emerge with striking clarity̶a reflection of modern society itself, where orderly networks are woven from individual relationships. Though fleeting and fragile enough to vanish at the slightest touch, these bubbles flexibly adapt to the shifting air, growing as they connect with others. Their presence serves as a guiding light for how we might navigate and thrive in an ever-evolving world.

W Osaka and art invite you to enjoy an extraordinary moment

The exhibition will take place in the Arrival Hall of W Osaka, a place where a unique and imaginative world unfolds. The stage, where guests from both Japan and abroad come and go in search of exciting experiences, is a perfect venue, resonating beautifully with the fluid message of xorium's artwork. In this place, where the artists themselves strongly felt that “the artwork was being installed in the space,” everyday unease will transform into empathy, leading to hints for a new way of life.