A.A.Murakami and the art of impermanence at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Floating World: A.A.Murakami, on view from May 4th to September 21st, 2025. This marks the U.S. museum debut of the Tokyo- and London-based duo A.A.Murakami, known for crafting immersive experiences where advanced technology meets ephemeral beauty. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese concept of ukiyo—the floating world of fleeting pleasures—the exhibition invites visitors into a dreamlike space shaped by fog, light, and form.

Spanning four large-scale installations, Floating World explores the shifting boundaries between the natural and the synthetic. In Cell (2020), metallic, porous sculptures made of aerospace materials recall ancient scholar’s rocks and deep-sea lifeforms, setting a contemplative tone. Nearby, Neon Sun (2020) surrounds visitors with glowing noble gases in custom glass tubes, pulsing with aurora-like light. A centerpiece of the show, Beyond the Horizon (2024), fills the gallery with massive soap-bubble clouds that float, shimmer, and dissolve, reflecting the transient nature of life.

Another highlight, Passage (2023), transforms space into a field of drifting fog rings, launched from towers and illuminated in motion. Finally, Under a Flowing Field (2023) flickers with white krypton “lightning” across a darkened void, accompanied by soft, insect-like sounds. Curator Bradley Bailey describes the show as both sensory spectacle and cultural meditation, merging ancient symbolism with cutting-edge expression.

With installations that blur the line between physical and digital, Floating World is a rare opportunity to experience A.A.Murakami’s poetic vision in its most ambitious form to date.

In conversation with A.A. Murakami: on turning nature into spectacle, reviving Fordlândia, and letting light and mist tell the story.