The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) presents Echoes of Ryugu: Exploring the Cosmic Tapestry through Science Art, a science-art exhibition inspired by samples returned from the asteroid Ryugu by JAXA’s Hayabusa2 mission. These microscopic grains, preserved for billions of years, offer an extraordinary connection to the early Solar System and the origins of life.
This exhibition bridges scientific inquiry and artistic interpretation, inviting visitors to experience the profound relationship between human perception and the cosmos. Through a multidisciplinary installation created by ELSI Artist in Residence Aoi Suwa, the exhibition explores dimensions beyond conventional human cognition. Using advanced scanning technologies and artistic visualisation, the installation reveals unseen structures and invites reflection on the limits of perception, knowledge, and existence.
Echoes of Ryugu offers an immersive encounter at the intersection of science, art, and philosophy, encouraging audiences to contemplate humanity’s place within the vast and interconnected cosmic tapestry.
Event Details
Dates: Wednesday, 4 March – Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Time: 10:00–16:30 (open to the public)
Venue: Science Tokyo Museum and Centennial Hall Building, 1st Floor, Ookayama Campus, Institute of Science Tokyo
(Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CcaD5YJx1TFat8339)
Admission: Free
Registration: Not required
Artist:
Aoi Suwa, ELSI Artist in Residence FY2025
Aoi Suwa’s work explores the boundaries between the visible and invisible, science and perception, using artistic processes informed by scientific inquiry. This exhibition represents the culmination of her residency at ELSI.
Supervisors:
Dr. Thilina Heenatigala, Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Institute of Science Tokyo
Dr. Masahiko Hara, JSPS London
Organiser:
Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Institute of Science Tokyo
About the Exhibition:
The Hayabusa2 mission returned pristine asteroid samples to Earth in December 2020, providing unprecedented insight into the chemical and physical processes that shaped our Solar System. While scientists analyse these samples using sophisticated instruments, this exhibition complements scientific discovery through artistic exploration.
By translating scientific data into visual and spatial experience, Echoes of Ryugu creates a dialogue between measurable reality and the limits of human perception. It invites visitors to consider what lies beyond the dimensions we can observe, and how science and art together expand our understanding of existence.