Facing Midosuji, the Champs Elysees of Osaka, the Swissnex Window offers a glimpse into Swiss ingenuity and excellence.
In Osaka, we invited visitors to explore how traditional crafts can be revitalized through digital innovation. Featuring artists, visual designers, and innovators from Japan and Switzerland, it created a vibrant space where cultural heritage meets modern technology, attracting a diverse audience drawn by interests in art, design, innovation, and both Swiss and Japanese traditions.
The exhibition explored innovative ways to bridge tradition and innovation in craftsmanship and cultural heritage through various media- posters, AI-generated images, and a CGI short film. Echoes of the Alps, created by Swiss creative duo Get It Studio, reinterpreted elements of Swiss folklore through the lens of generative AI, blurring the line between craft and code. Complementing this, the CGI short film Mirage by Japanese visual designer Takafumi Matsunaga drew inspiration from katagami stencils and reimagined a way to showcase this traditional craft. Together, the two projects offered a cross-cultural dialogue on how technology can reinterpret and revitalize crafts and cultural heritage.
The exhibition was complemented by a special event in the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka; find out more below!
Under the global initiative led by the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich and Swissnex, the event Reimagining Traditional Crafts with Cutting-Edge Technology brought together artists, designers, and innovators to explore how traditional crafts can be revitalized through modern technology. Held on May 22 at the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, the evening centered on the dialogue between cultural heritage and digital innovation.
Sophie Grossmann, research associate at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich and curator of the initiative, opened the event by tracing the museum’s legacy and its connection to the Japanese stencil craft of katagami. She emphasized the power of design, stating:
Design serves as a universal language, it connects time, culture, and perspectives
Following this introduction was the screening of Mirage, a CGI short film by Japanese visual designer Takafumi Matsunaga. The film reimagines katagami through modern animation techniques. Matsunaga explained the idea process behind the video and the link between katagami and the artwork.
A panel discussion moderated by Hideki Yoshimoto, Craft x Tech Founder, brought together:
Together, they shared diverse perspectives on whether technology can safeguard, reinterpret, and breathe new life into traditional crafts—reflecting on the relationship between historical knowledge and contemporary creativity.
Swissnex in Japan presents "Connected Human," an immersive exhibition spotlighting 16 pioneering projects from EPFL’s world-leading startups and research laboratories. How can emerging technologies redefine the human body? The exhibition explores the evolving relationship between humans and machines—where innovation extends our capabilities, enhances our well-being, and deepens human connection.
From April 10 to May 6, the Synthetic Interactions exhibition brought together audacious projects by Master’s students in Interaction Design at SUPSI, UNSTATED and Curling Computer Club. The exhibition featured interactive and robotic installations exploring how synthetic intelligences shape human experience. Highlights included algorithmic systems, multimodal interfaces, engaging Kansai’s creative tech community and beyond, the exhibition sparked vibrant exchange around design, AI, and interactivity.
Swissnex in Japan, in collaboration with ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne, successfully hosted Swissnex Window #4: Folklore Fusion, a groundbreaking exhibition that explored Swiss and Japanese folklore through digital artistry. Running from March 11 to April 3, 2025 in Osaka, the exhibition captivated visitors with its unique blend of tradition and innovation, showcasing folklore through cutting-edge CGI characters.
The SAY Swiss Architecture Yearbook exhibition, presented as part of Swissnex Window #3, has concluded its run in Japan, marking a significant chapter in the celebration of Swiss architectural innovation and sustainability. This exhibition, launched in 2023, highlighted 36 remarkable architectural projects selected from 129 nominations, offering a platform for international dialogue on topics such as sustainable construction, urban innovation, and excellence in Swiss architectural design.
From December 9, 2024, to January 10, 2025, the second Swissnex Window exhibition offered visitors a profound exploration of algae's potential in addressing global challenges and reshaping human-environment relationships. Spotlighting the intersection of art, science, and sustainability, it featured cutting-edge work and a workshop by Swiss artist Maya Minder in downtown Osaka.
Swissnex in Japan successfully launched its new Swissnex Window series with the exhibition "Design with Wood" from October 25 to November 22, 2024, at the Consulate of Switzerland in Osaka. This inaugural showcase highlighted the innovative work of five emerging Swiss designers—Fabien Roy, Amandine Gini, Victor Moynier, Ramona Hess, and Salomon Elsler—who transform discarded or overlooked wood into striking examples of sustainable design.
Fiammetta Pennisi
