I could enjoy experiments mixed with hi-tech and low-tech at many sections. Essences of difficult scientific theories were designed in very understandable and interesting ways, and of course, adults could enjoy them as well. The section “Audial Time Illusion” introduced the sensory (the sense of sight, hearing, touch, smell and somatesthesia) causes for a time gap when the brain is deceived by sensory input. I could experience a mysterious illusion that regular flashes of light appear to change in number because of peripheral sound.

“Heartbeat Clock” provided us a mysterious space where we could see 2 people’s heartbeats create a beautiful ring of floating light. In “Biological Clock: 24-hour DNA”, I could travel the time of biological space. Apart from them, there were several sections I could experience the time of outer space as well. The section “The Complete History of Time” focused the universal time since its beginning 15 billion years ago with the Big Bang and the continuum of time from matter to life to humanity. In “Running to the Theory of Relativity”, I had to run with a watch in order to experience the Theory of Relativity that when we run at high speeds, time slows. Also, I could experience the journey of light by watching at rolling balls in different timing. Complicated theories were simply visualised and some of them made myself a laugh out loud with pleasure.

Cloth elephant, horse and mouse were the most popular objects for children. These objects are based on a masterpiece “Elephant’s time, Mouse’s time” and they introduced the theory that each animal has a different time because no animals has the same size of body and heartbeat. Sound and light blink as they follow each animal’s heartbeat. The speed of mouse was quite high but the elephant’s heartbeat made a very slow and low sound. The heartbeat of horse was almost same as human beings’ and these 3 heartbeats made touching trio. In the section “Anechoic Space”, I could experience a length of “3-minute” in an anechoic chamber. So I heard the elephant’s heartbeat, but it is possible to think that it was a good chance to experience a “3-minute” for an elephant.

A featureless square bench was my favourite and I could find it at the middle of the exhibition place. However, after a while, I noticed that the bench was moving surprisingly slowly. The bench implied that “Time goes by almost before we realise it”. That was a humorous and cleaver work.

I enjoyed the exhibits by (1) listening to theories, (2) experiencing them, (3) understanding them, or the opposite pattern of (2) and (1). They were direct and understandable, and it can be said that the exhibition completed the origin of design and art: “visualising intangible things”. However, I wanted more visual impact in the composition of the place. Not only focusing on the scientific theories, but also I wanted to look at more works that encourage visitors to find more discoveries. In any event, I can say that this exhibition is the best place where you can simply experience the forefront of science. When you leave the museum you will experience one more thing. That is “Time went by very quickly before we knew it because we had a really good time!”

*Creative Crews: Takeshi Ishiguro, Toshio Iwai, Ryota Kuwakubo, Takuya Shimada, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Kohji Setoh, Haruaki Tanaka, Asao Tokoro + Yoko Ogawa, Ben Nagaoka, tomato interactive, Yoshiaki Nishimura, Kei Fukuda, flow, Musegram, Mintos, Hisato Ogata + Rieko Miyata.

Time! Time! Time! Exploration of Time!
Date: March 19th – June 30th, 2003
Open: 10:00 – 17:00 (Closed on Tuesdays)
Place: National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
Address: 2-14 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Tel: +81 (0)3 3570 9151
info@miraikan.jst.go.jp
https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp