Reality or Illusion?

Focus areas

• Science
• Geography
• History
• Art and image

During the visit, the girls and boys will discover how Yukinori Yanagi (b. 1959, Fukuoka, Japan; lives and works in Momoshima, Japan), one of the leading figures on the contemporary art scene, brings together organic and living materials in his monumental works. He also includes icons from Japanese popular culture, mirrored environments, historic images of global importance—such as the mushroom cloud from the Hiroshima bomb—as well as recycled objects and industrial components. All of these elements, and more, are woven into a continuous exploration of highly topical themes such as nationalism, identity, and the delicate balance between humanity and the environment.

Starting out from his most emblematic works on flags, national borders, and globalisation—such as Hinomaru Illumination 2025 and The World Flag Ant Farm 2025—and from those that create the most stunning optical illusions, such as Icarus Container 2025 and Banzai Container, the students will be invited to discuss the relationship between past and present, destruction and rebirth, reality and imagination, movement and permanence.

During the workshop, the arts tutors will help the students explore the scientific principles behind optical illusions and the theme of travel as an existential journey. Working collaboratively, they will create their own optical illusions, revealing symbols, colours, and maps that reflect their own identity and their personal journey through the world.