The Watermelon Pool — An Interactive Picture Book with Extended Reality

The Watermelon Pool is based on Watermelon Swimming Pools, the first picture book written and illustrated by Annyeongdal. In this heartwarming story, you can almost hear the laughter of villagers dashing between round, giant watermelons to play in the watermelon pool. A summer classic, it has sold over 300,000 copies since its publication in 2015. Rebel9 transformed the picture book into a barrier-free exhibition that engages all the senses — accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of age.

The illustrations of the picture book are defined by the charming, scratchy texture of colored pencils. The main posters were created in two seasonal versions, capturing a snowy winter day and a clear summer day at the watermelon pool. Inspired by watermelon slices, the title lettering at the center assembles letterforms of varying shapes into a single triangular slice, borrowing the palette and colored-pencil texture of the original artwork so the type blends naturally into the illustration. In the motion poster, the title moves in a way that evokes the crisp, refreshing bite of watermelon.

Each zone of the exhibition is represented by a graphic shape drawn from its title. These shapes carry through to the leaflet map and exhibition signage, distinguishing the areas in an intuitive, playful way. Accessibility pictograms for audio description and braille guides are placed throughout the space and printed materials, signaling a barrier-free exhibition that everyone can understand and enjoy.

One of the key tasks of the exhibition was producing immersive video content for a massive LED wall measuring 9 meters wide and 2.5 meters high. The content focused on delicately translating the warm, cozy atmosphere unique to the picture book into a digital environment: detailed texture work emphasizes the soft quality of colored pencil in the backgrounds, while scenes flow seamlessly through the seasons from winter to fall. Visitors feel as if they have stepped directly into the pages of the book.

Anticipating the autumn opening, the video begins with a snow-covered village scene not found in the original book. As children cross fields of giant watermelons, a round watermelon splits in half in the distance, revealing the title. A tall ladder is set against the split watermelon, and the children climb up to play in the pool. The rind cut by grandfather becomes a slide and a playground, and as dusk settles, everyone heads home. When autumn leaves begin to fall, the watermelon pool closes for the year — and the story ends with the promise of reopening next summer.

Through the interactive media experience Flash Flash, Splash! Into the Watermelon Pool, visitors of all ages become protagonists of the picture book and play in the watermelon pool.At a tablet installed in a corner of the gallery, visitors choose one of six characters from the book, along with a cloud to bring to the pool. Each cloud casts a different effect above the character: white clouds bring rainbows, dark clouds summon lightning, and rain clouds make it rain. After taking a photo aligned with the character’s face and sending it off, the character runs into the watermelon pool.

On the projection wall wrapping the gallery, a watermelon pool split in half unfolds. The character you created climbs the white ladder at the center and arrives at the pool, jumping, walking, dancing, and greeting others on the watermelon. The backdrop shifts through the day — from sunny afternoons to steady rain, and into nights sparkling with stars and fireflies.