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On Tuesday, July 29, a discussion event was held featuring creators involved in the BLUE OCEAN DOME. BLUE OCEAN DOME General Producer Kenya Hara, along with Shohei Takei of nomena, who oversaw the exhibit production for Dome A, and Kosuke Oho and Hirofumi Ouchi of WOW, who oversaw the video production for Dome B, took the stage to discuss the behind-the-scenes aspects of the exhibit, which combines ocean issues with creative expression, and the thoughts that went into its creation.
The first half of the discussion focused on the exhibit in Dome A, which represents the “water cycle.” Hara reflected on his long career of creating water-based installations and explained the concept of the exhibit, which utilizes ultra-water-repellent technology to allow water droplets to roll under the force of gravity. Having evolved from its primitive early days, this latest installment represents the culmination of that work, focusing on a “realistic depiction of seeing water for the first time.”
Takei of engineering studio “nomena,” who participated in the production team that brought this device to fruition, detailed the process of designing the “channels” and “surface shapes” that would allow the water to move naturally. Through repeated research into eliciting water’s natural behavior, verification using full-scale mockups, and feedback between computer simulations and actual measurement data, the team established technology to precisely control the water’s movement. Ultimately, by incorporating skilled sheet metal techniques that involve hammering aluminum plates for fine adjustments, the team’s artisans created a “channel” that allows water to flow drop by drop as if it were alive, thanks to the handiwork of artisans.
Next, regarding Dome B’s giant spherical screen, Oho and Ouchi of visual design studio “WOW,” who were in charge of the video production, shared behind-the-scenes details of the creation of the full CG images, which were created without any filming. The production of this full CG video began with a detailed storyboard provided by Hara. In order to recreate the impact an astronaut would have when seeing Earth with their own eyes, the team pursued meticulous realism, from the selection of LED panels to the use of unparalleled black paint. To ensure realism, the production team visited Indonesia’s Raja Ampat Islands and actually dived into the ocean, incorporating their experiences into the CG, particularly for the ocean scenes, which include schools of fish and the deep sea, which are considered difficult to capture in CG.
Furthermore, regarding the whale’s eye, which appears as a highlight of the video, Hara explained, “The intention is to convey a message that goes beyond words by making eye contact between a human and a living creature.”
Towards the end of the event, Hara expressed his intention to continue disseminating this message even after the Expo ends, concluding by saying, “I hope this initiative will serve as a springboard for continued action into the future.”
▼The event is currently available to watch on YouTube’s <BLUE OCEAN DOME Official Channel>. Please take a look.
【#086】Blue Ocean Dome Creators’ Discussion (ZERI JAPAN)