Landscapes of Waka, Rippling Hearts

When do our hearts ripple? What do we feel while listening to the sound of insects on an autumn night and gazing at dewdrops formed on bushes? Rebel9’s interactive media “Landscapes of Waka, Rippling Hearts” was planned and produced as part of the special exhibition “Japanese Art: Four Perspectives” commemorating the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization. The media is positioned within the third perspective of Japanese art, “Momentary Emotions,” proposing an experience of momentary contemplation like appreciating garden landscapes through borrowed scenery. Visitors slowly stroll around the media and encounter the hearts of ancient poets.

“Landscapes of Waka, Rippling Hearts” implements waka poetry from classical texts such as “The Tale of Genji” and “Kokin Wakashū” as interactive digital media, enabling a new way of experiencing classical poetry. Rebel9 focuses on gently conveying the emotions contained within waka rather than simply explaining information about Japanese classical poetry.

In the exhibition space, visitors encounter fifteen tanzaku inscribed with waka poetry. The tanzaku, serving as RFID tags, were created preserving the form of short strips traditionally used for writing waka, with textured paper added so visitors can feel a warm tactile sensation. The tanzaku bear phrases from each waka such as “beckoning pampas grass,” “fields where nightingales cry,” and “wandering butterflies.” Through fifteen natural elements that evoke imagery, they open the door to the media and are designed as an experience of reading a poem in itself.

When visitors place a tanzaku on the reader, the 10-inch touch display and LED display screens respond with gentle vibrations, revealing graphics that reinterpret waka in a contemporary way. As visitors approach the media, gentle ripples form and waka verses appear around them. The poetry appears in two parts to match reading rhythm, and slowly disappears when visitors leave. Like the fleeting beauty felt in seasonal changes, the sensors of “Landscapes of Waka, Rippling Hearts” respond sensitively to visitors’ movements.

The interaction between visitors and media consists of layered, multi-dimensional structures. Rather than linear information exploration, the media encourages the experience of freely appreciating while strolling through the exhibition space. Visitors’ gazes naturally extend and intersect from surrounding artifacts to waka, and from waka back to artifacts. Therefore, “Landscapes of Waka, Rippling Hearts” resembles the experience of viewing the “Cherry Blossom Patterned Kosode” in Part 2, “Pursuit of Restraint.” Viewing from afar and approaching closely for detailed observation. As visitors move between the two, waka written a thousand years ago overlaps with waka reinterpreted by Rebel9 in 2025.

The visual concept of “Landscapes of Waka, Rippling Hearts” originates from the decorative and non-decorative aspects that constitute Japanese art. Japanese art is notable for its splendid decorativeness, influenced by Heian period aristocratic culture, such as painting on gold leaf screens and writing waka on paper decorated with gold and silver. Meanwhile, pursuing restrained elegance, refined crafts and rustic tea bowls were popular in the same era.

“Landscapes of Waka, Rippling Hearts” pays attention to these seemingly conflicting external characteristics, combining the “Passion for Decoration” and “Pursuit of Restraint” seen in ancient Japanese people. Based on an overall minimalist composition that utilizes negative space, graphics were created to visually embody the imagery of waka. Golden graphics inspired by the maki-e technique of painting with lacquer and sprinkling gold powder harmoniously blend with the “Autumn Grass Screen” and “Inkstone Box Using Gold Powder” surrounding the media in the exhibition space. Particularly, the graphics corresponding to each waka, along with subtle animation effects, provide an experience similar to calmly appreciating the pampas grass blooming in the fields depicted in the “Musashino Plain Screen.”

The furniture design was conceived as a low, refined form that harmonizes with the exhibition space. The upper part of the display is structured to appear floating above the floor, giving an impression of hovering in space. The low height allows viewing the media from above, guiding the experience of reading waka to feel like gazing into tranquil water. “Landscapes of Waka, Rippling Hearts,” emitting gentle light, functions as a luminous object and establishes itself as media where visitors can stay and contemplate.

Japanese Art: Four Perspectives
National Museum of Korea
2025.06.17.~08.10.
Directed by Kim Sunhyuck
Art Directed by Kim Jungwook
Project Managed by Jang Boram
Graphic & Motion Designed by Oh Jiseung
Furniture Designed by Studio Anz
Software Developed by Seol Jungmin
Video Filmed & Edited by Oh Jiseung
Concept Developed by Park Subin
Hardware Technician by Kim Seokhwan
Thanks to Jung Haesu, Ryu Minju, Kim Hyejung, Ra Haerin
Rebel9