Cultural Exchange Exhibition 'Bridging Past and Future' - Japan-en
Cultural Exchange Exhibition 'Bridging Past and Future'
As the world changes, collaboration between countries becomes more important than ever, as working together leads to shared under-standing and new ideas. This idea stands at the heart of the new Dutch Cultural Exhibition at the Osaka World Expo.
The Dutch cultural exhibition brings together a special collection of objects and projects made by artists, designers, and makers from the Netherlands and Japan. It’s a rare chance to see all these different ideas and creations in one place, each shaped by people learning from one another and working together across cultures.
From the early trade exchanges at Dejima 425 years ago to today’s creative partnerships, the connection between Japan and the Netherlands has always been about curiosity, respect, and sharing knowledge. As the world changes, this kind of collaboration becomes more important than everas working together leads to shared under-standing and new ideas.
Here you’ll find 11 design collaborations, 4 artist-in-residence programmes, and historical artifacts, as well as documents brought together for the first time. They each tell a story about how the past can inspire the present, and how people from different places can build something meaningful together.
This exhibition is part of Activating Common Ground, the cultural programme of the Netherlands Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. The programme includes showcases, talk shows, performances, magazine features, editorial studios, and even a fashion research trip. Each element offers a different way to explore how culture is cultivated through meeting, making, and sharing.
At its heart is a simple idea: culture doesn’t grow alone. It’s built by the exchanging of ideas, skills, values, and experiences. This exhibition celebrates that process and invites everyone, young and old, to be part of it.
Activating Common Ground is curated by Nieuwe Instituut, the national museum for architecture, design and digital culture based in Rotterdam, and Studio the Future, a cultural and publishing studio based in Amsterdam.
20 May - 25 May
Location: Gallery East, Expo 2025 site, next to the National Day Hall
Daily from 9:00 - 21:00 (Wednesday 21 May: 14:00 - 21:00; Sunday 25 May 9:00 - 18:00)
The cultural programme of the pavilion of the Netherlands is organized by Nieuwe Instituut, museum for architecture, design and digital culture in Rotterdam. Please find all information on the programme and the activities here.