Traveling Exhibition

* Lending terminated

Concept

Love tends to be discussed through emotions and feelings, “LOVE STORIES – Why you are not alone.” will offer a scientific perspective in which to view love. With topics from the latest research in life sciences and information sciences, this exhibition will provide the audience with an opportunity to ponder about love as a simple life form to preserve our specie, as well as intellectual, social life form that enhances life. Technology is increasing our choices in our life, shaping the future of love. The audience may discover that love is to find a partner to foster life and culture.

Reference

Prologue: Why You Are Not Alone.

Pictures taken by Yoichi Nagano will unravel stories of various couples to illustrate contemporary love.

Chapter 1: The Story of Life Forms in Love

Variations on genders are introduced; for example, a reptile whose gender is determined by difference of temperature. In the case of the “clownfish”, when a lager female clownfish leaves its smaller male partner, the male transforms into a female. Also introduced are the origin of gender and various love strategies employed by living forms to hunt for partners.

Chapter 2: The Story of Homo Sapiens in Love

Interesting is the relationship between the reproductive function and life span referred to as the “Grandma Effect” hypothesis by evolutionary anthropologists. The hypothesis cites that in the long span of human history, the remarkable increase in the percentage of elderly people has played an important role in human evolution. This chapter will also try to verify the “love of homo sapiens” who, unlike other forms, have acquired language and can pass on their culture.

Chapter 3: The Story of Human Beings in Love

This chapter explains the trials and errors encountered as of humans beings try to convey messages of love by developing communication means from words, literature, art, and database.

Epilogue: The End of the Beginning

Visitors will face the “present” from both perspectives,; as a life form, and as a human being, who passes on culture. Introduction of latest technologies around us, such as cloning and role playing games, will cast light on such questions as: can both men and women give birth to a child? Can they control emotions?

Specification

Space: 600m²
Height: 5.3m
*Mini-version (200m²) is also available.

Original Exhibition

This exhibition was featured at Miraikan from 23 April to 15 August, 2005.

Special Exhibition for the event held at Miraikan