AN INSTAGRAM GUIDE TO TEAMLAB’s BORDERLESS
tep into Tokyo’s most photogenic art experience!
A not-so-big secret about myself is, I am a big fan of surrealism. I love the way it releases the mind by surrendering the senses to the creative potential of the unconscious. It’s like diving into a brand new world of possibility that’s not so far from our own, yet, we can see the beauty of our reality and dreams in uncanny ways that challenge logical reasoning.
That is the exact feeling you’ll discover immersing yourself inside teamLab’s Borderless – a maze of light, projection mapping and sounds – all interactive and very Instagrammably artsy.
But, after experiencing the digital art museum for myself, I realised my impression of this place being the ultimate Instagrammer’s dream was not completely true as advertised. There are artworks worthy of being snapped and others which were better to just put the camera away and enjoy playing in.
For this photography guide, we’ll share how to play and take photos amongst these breathtaking moving artworks.
t is important to remember that because Borderless is still an art exhibition, there are some rules visitors will need to obey by (see their Notice to Visitors section).
No tripods, selfie sticks, and bags are allowed during your time inside – that means no long exposure shots! So, coming prepared will ensure you are set with your best equipment to still enjoy photo-taking with only your pockets as storage.
The challenges of shooting inside Borderless are, of course, working in complete pitch darkness and photographing digital screens that produce anti-aliasing problems when up-close. You will need to adapt your camera gear and settings that allows a big aperture and a slow enough shutter speed so you can capture enough light but not too slow that it causes blurring without a tripod.
As a starting point, here are the camera specs and equipment I used:
My camera specs are:
- Camera: FUJIFILM X-T1
- Lens: 18mm – 55mm
- ISO: 800+
- f-stop: f/1.4 – f2.0
- Shutter speed: 1/30
My phone specs are:
- Phone: Samsung S9+
- Camera: Rear camera only
- Settings: Live Focus, Auto/Pro
teamLab Borderless is a group of artworks that form one borderless world.
Artworks move out of the rooms freely, form connections and relationships with people, communicate with other works, influence and sometimes intermingle with each other.
Create new experiences with others, immerse yourself in borderless art, and explore the world with your body.
– teamLab
ou might not have given too much thought into picking your outfit for just an exhibition but because of the low light and darkness of the art space, I would suggest the following to ensure visibility when taking photos:
- Clothes that are minimalist in style and have very little to no patterns.
- Clothes that’ll give you a great silhouette profile. Think about different structures and fabrics like sheer chiffon or long bell sleeves.
- Colours that work best, in my opinion, are white, black and bright clothes like yellow, light pink etc. I found these colours don’t interfere with the projections.
- No mini skirts but long skirts are ok. There are mirrored floors people.
- No high heels (trust me, I made that mistake). The floor in some spaces are uneven.
crolling through Instagram and online photos, there are many beautifully shot pictures of the Borderless exhibit that you might have wanted to replicate for yourself.
With its cutting-edge digital art and mesmerising visuals, Borderless is perfect to capture one of a kind photos to share online. With 470 projectors projecting various
changing artworks, you’d be mistaken in thinking you can capture every single moment through the lens in that ‘perfect’ Instagrammable way.
So without the luxury of a media pass and crowd-free exhibition space, I’m going to share my top tips on the best spots to spend your time to capture amazing photographic memories.
1. Wander through the Crystal World
Difficulty Level For That Perfect Shot: ★
Definitely, the easiest installation to capture an amazing shot, “The Way of the Sea in the Crystal World – Colors of Life” takes you through a maze of flickering LED lights with ambient music forming your path as you navigate between rooms.
Rooms you say? Well, there are two main rooms to find in this section: “Flutter of Butterflies Beyond Borders in the Crystal World” and “The Way of the Sea in the
Crystal World – Colors of Life.”
Photography Tips: Side poses and back shots work best to get that perfect silhouette!
Explore Tips: In this room, play with the panels. Every time you touch them, it changes the colours and lights of the entire room!
Expectations
View this post on Instagram
Reality
View this post on Instagram
Final shot with editing – not too shabby when you compare with Taramilktea’s right? Oh, and by the way, the colourful lighting in both photos is due to some slight editing as the colours don’t really get like that in the exhibition.
2. FOREST OF FLOWERS AND PEOPLE: LOST, IMMERSED AND REBORN
Difficulty Level For That Perfect Shot: ★★★
My second favourite installation for photos, Forest of Flowers and People explores the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Here flowers grow from empty spaces spreading and thriving until the gradual changing of the seasons.
Photography Tips: For poses, try sitting down and use the mirrors to create interesting back-to-back shots.
Explore Tips: The butterflies will, umm, “die” when you hit them.
The seasons change gradually across the installation space.
Flowers blossom according to the changing seasons, and the place where they grow gradually moves.
3. A UNIVERSE OF WATER PARTICLES ON A ROCK WHERE PEOPLE GATHER
Difficulty Level For That Perfect Shot: ★★★★
Okay, real talk. Where getting to the pointy end of achievable photos. In this installation, water flows from the “Athletics Forest, Graffiti Nature – High Mountains and Deep Valleys” installations, and accumulate into the waterfall of the Universe of Water Particles on a Rock where People Gather installation.
When the light particles hit the “rock” at the base of the waterfall, they disperse in different directions, creating the illusion of real water. The fun part is, you can climb onto the rock and as the particles hit you, you also change the direction of the water flow, just as if you were a rock in the water’s path. This means every visual artwork is
unique and no formation of water can ever be replicated or reoccur.
In the same room, the “Born From the Darkness a Loving, and Beautiful World” projection controls the room’s climate by catching words that represent different weather patterns as they fall from the sky.
Photography Tips: The best position to capture a photo is at the centre of the rock so try to wait until most people have left to sneak a photo (if you can – we couldn’t). For posing, I think sitting shots look nice, but also side and back profiles look great.
Explore Tips: The falling kanji on the wall changes the entire room’s animation.
Floating Kanji on the right
Expectations
View this post on Instagram
Reality
View this post on Instagram
4. FOREST OF RESONATING LAMPS
Difficulty Level For That Perfect Shot: ★★★★★
In this installation, light is emitted from one source and travels to another. As it spreads all lamps shine brightly in unison before returning back to its original source.
Although the most iconic room in the teamLab exhibition, it is, in my opinion, the hardest room to capture a great photo in.
First of all, entry to this exhibit is limited to specific session times and to avoid overcrowding during those session times, there’s also a limited duration of stay. If you plan to go inside please be aware of the session times to not miss out. I, unfortunately, missed out on going inside the room because of this.
Secondly, the advertised images of this space by your favourite Instagrammers is a
bit of a stretch for the normal ticket goer. For example, we absolutely love taramilktea’s curated image (below) but it was simply not achievable from my personal experience due to crowds and the fact that the room was closed. Whether you go early or go late to Borderless, Tokyo is just a super busy city that I can’t imagine you would be able to get an empty or even partially empty room for yourself.
Photography Tips: My suggestion is to make your photos work on a smaller level. No wide far away camera shots. Instead, more close up shots to avoid bumping into the lamps and to limit background interference. Or, you can fake a wide shot by posing at the window outside as I have (see below).
Explore Tips: Touching the lamps will change their colour.
Expectations
View this post on Instagram
Reality
Because the room was closed, this was shot from the window looking into the room. That’s the only reason why there’s no one in the background!
hile you’re exploring each room to the fullest, you will eventually make your way to the “Athletics Forest” – a space designed as a giant projected playground. The world is fully interactive and the floor dips and peaks like valleys and hills to challenge your body and understanding of the projected world in a 3D sense.
I personally feel these places are best for playing in rather than photo taking but you can still capture some fun Instagram Stories or Boomerang loop clips to upload to your social media.
1. WEIGHTLESS FOREST OF RESONATING LIFE
deconstructed jumping castle experience with oversized “balloons” that balance air and light. These balloons are inflated yet can stand upright or stay suspended in mid-air defying gravity and the laws of physics.
When the objects of light are pushed or pushed over by visitors, their color will change and a tone specific to that color will ring out. Then all the nearby objects will react and change into the same color and make the same tone. The objects will continue to react to each other gradually in a chain.
2. Graffiti Nature - High Mountains and Deep Valleys
hand-drawn ecosystem were animals and plants co-exist. Animals will increase their numbers from eating other animals in the food chain. Flowers will bloom if you stand still and disperse when you walk around. Learn how to create and play here.
Photo Credit: borderless.teamlab.art (Website)
Living things eat each other and are eaten by each other to create one ecosystem. When the creature that you draw eats another creature then it will increase in numbers. Butterflies will increase in places with lots of flowers. If living things cannot eat or are eaten by others then they will die. If crocodiles are stepped on too much then they’ll die. Flowers will bloom if you stand still, but will disperse if you walk around.
Photo Credit: borderless.teamlab.art (Website)
3. Sketch Aquarium
ithin the Athletics Forest is another world called “Future Park” – a creative world to teach and learn about ecosystems in a digital environment. Enjoy creating your own sea animal to live in the digital aquarium and watch how your creation comes alive and interacts with other digital sea creatures. Learn how to play here.
Photo Credit: borderless.teamlab.art (Website)
Visitors will be able to see their creation come to life in a giant aquarium and swim with all of the other sea creatures. Visitors may also touch the fish to see them swim away, or touch the virtual food bag to feed the fish.
PRICE
- Adults (15 years old and older) – JPY 3,200
- Child (4 to 14 years old) – JPY 1,000
OPENING HOURS
- Regular Hours
Monday – Thursday, Sunday and Holidays 10:00- 19:00
Friday, Saturday and Holiday Eve 10:00- 21:00 *Closed: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month
FACILITIES
- Lockers are available for JPY 100 (refundable) to put your belongings in.
- Sneaker hire available on the 4th floor if you have unstable footwear like heels or clogs.
- To avoid looking up your skirt, cover wrap skirts are available for visitors to use in areas with mirrors on the floor.
- Inside drink vending machines and rest areas are located near the restrooms.
- Wheelchair friendly exhibition, however, wheelchairs cannot enter the Athletic Area.
- You can find more about the site, how to access and where to buy tickets here.
- Get affordable unlimited 4G WiFi for Japan for less than AUD$11
- Enjoy 38% off Tokyo’s Robot Restaurant Show Ticket
- Have fun street Go Karting in Akihabara
Need a place to stay in Tokyo? Search for accommodation using the widget below:
- View the sea of clouds at Kurumayama Shrine during sunrise
- Visit Sendai’s most famous Fox Village
- Discover the most dangerous teahouse in the world Takasugi-an in Nagano
Incredible! These are professional-grade good; thanks for bringing your visions to us…
I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this! It took a while to put together but it’s finally here.
Thanks for the feedback Chief!
Xx
Siree
I’ve seen this in my firend’s instagram, the place looks awesome :)
xx Alyssa | STYLE VANITY
Thanks for stopping by Alyssa!
Yes, this place is e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e haha It’s super fun, I highly recommend it!
Xx
Siree
[…] A guide to the hottest digital art museum teamLab BORDERLESS […]
[…] How to take photos, play and have fun at teamLab’s Borderless. […]
How would you recommend someone that is going by there self to get pictures like this? Can you ask strangers, or the employees? This is one of my fears so Im trying to figure out this dilemma!!
Hi Chris,
Thanks for asking!
If you would like to take these kinds of photos but you are by yourself, you would definitely have to ask other visitors or the staff to help take photos for you since the exhibit does not allow tripods or have any place where you would be able to place a camera.
Actually, there were many visitors who also ask other strangers to help take their photos (both in English and Japanese). So it’s very common!
There is staff located in each area and most of the staff I saw did speak some level of English. So asking very simply to help take a photo is totally ok.
My advice would be if there is a pose you want to capture, you can save a reference picture on your phone and show it to the person. Hopefully, that will help communicate what kind of photo you would like to take.
More and more people in Tokyo are speaking English which is great for tourists, but the key is to ask simply and not to speak too fast.
Here are some helpful phrases:
すみません
Sumi masen = Excuse me
写真を撮ってもらえませんか？
Shashin o totte morae masen ka = Could you please take a picture of me/us?
このような写真を撮ってください
kono youna shashin o totte kudasai = Please take a photo like this.
もう一枚お願いします
mou ichi mai onegai shimasu = Please take one more photo.
ありがとうございます
Arigato (gozai masu) = Thank you (very much)
I hope that helps! Let us know if you have any other questions ;)
–
Siree