teamLab Phenomena Opens In Abu Dhabi: The Intersection Of Technology And Nature

The fluid fabric of nature shifts with each passing moment—whether in the subtle drift of air, in the pattern of light, or the silent bloom of flora. In keeping with these constantly shifting occurrences, a multi-sensory wonderland opened in Abu Dhabi in April, conjured by the international art collective teamLab Phenomena. Developed by the Department of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)—and operated by Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, ‘teamLab Phenomenon Abu Dhabi’ opened its doors earlier this month.

Cues From Nature

Rooted in teamLab’s newest concept, ‘Environmental Phenomena,’ this trailblazing showcase is shaped by a space always in flux, blurring the boundaries between art, technology, and nature. Standing within the Saadiyat Cultural District, the venue connects a nascent constellation of avant-garde institutions, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Manarat Al Saadiyat, and Berklee Abu Dhabi. “teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi is a groundbreaking cultural landmark that redefines immersive art experiences on a global scale,” remarks Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi.

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A Troupe Of Ultratechnologists

This gallery visit transcends mere conformist norms. Unlike artworks with static traits, “The artworks in teamLab Phenomena do not exist independently but are created by the environment, which produces the various phenomena that create the artworks,” explains Toshiyuki Inoko, Founder of teamLab.  Founded in 2001, this pioneering international art collective unites artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians, and architects— melding disciplinary boundaries to chart new terrains between art, technology, and nature. Through their collaborative alchemy, they reimagine how we see and connect with the world, with works housed in major museums like the National Gallery of Victoria, MOCA Los Angeles, and the Asia Society Museum, among others.

Spread across 182,986 sq-ft, in The Saadiyat Cultural District—an island located about 500 meters off the coast of Abu Dhabi—this edifice is designed by MZ Architects in alliance with teamLab Architects. It features a softly sculpted, white, amorphous façade. With a fluid form that is part ethereal and part elemental, the façade’s sinuous character initiates a conversation with the artworks inside. Though rooted in Saadiyat’s grand vision, Phenomena carves its rhythm—its voluptuous curves and strategic contours shaped entirely by the art and phenomena within. Posing as the world’s largest digital art museum—surpassing even teamLab’s famed ‘Borderless’ in Tokyo, which opened in 2018—the façade is as much an artistic vision as it is an architectural necessity. With its quaint form, this assembly embodies teamLab’s quintessential philosophy: that boundaries between space and self, between nature and creation, are fluid illusions. 

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Within The Screens

This assembly conceals an immersive ecosystem within, unlike the projection-clad interiors of its predecessors, that transports patrons into a wonderland in motion. With a trove of sensorial marvels, the space is a realm where art and technology entwine in harmony, stirring intrigue, imagination, and kindling creativity at every turn. In this concept, the environment isn’t just a backdrop; it’s the creator, custodian, and co-star. The artworks—curated by the artists of teamLab—and its surrounding space are intricately interlaced—shifting with the breeze, blooming in humidity, frolicking with light, and transpiring only when one steps into its orbit. “The artwork is inseparable from the environment and changes along with the environment,” muses Inoko, the founder.

Across the threshold, no map or wall text to guide the visitors, only a hushed, darkened room that quietly prompts to an uncanny layout. Meandering through this room, as one might dip a finger into a glimmering pool, its ripples bloom into a living mosaic of light, intimating to visitors that this isn’t just a museum—it’s a sentient environment that responds, evolves, and shifts with those who are its visitors. At the heart of this space, towering cylindrical structures cascade with digital waterfalls, perfectly capturing teamLab’s allure for nature. Akin to a dreamscape, a mesmerising interplay between light, air, and water redraws the landscape in real time. From flocks of digital birds mirroring nature’s choreography to vortexes shaped by water particles, and dots of light pulsing and syncing with each passing touch, every element exists in a state of flux.

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“Even if people immerse themselves physically into the artwork, the artwork will remain intact, capable of naturally restoring itself even if disrupted,” reveals  Inoko. As visitors wander through the cinematic lanes of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the boundaries between tactile and environment melt into a choreography of mutual becoming. This space, with its shifting and self-restructuring forms, is an understanding of what art can be—not something fixed on a surface, but something wholly perceived, lived, and felt in flux.

You can step into this ever-shifting digital realm daily, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. GST. Tickets are sold online.