The Mori Art Museum in Tokyo has opened "The Architecture of Sou Fujimoto: Primordial Future Forest," the first major survey of the Japanese architect's thirty-year career. Running from July 2 to November 9, 2025, the exhibition spans eight thematic sections, featuring over 1,000 models, sketches, videos, installations, and even stuffed toys. Highlights include a large-scale installation of Fujimoto's key projects, a timeline by architectural historian Kurakata Shunsuke, full-scale mock-ups of his Grand Ring for Expo 2025 Osaka, and a futuristic city proposal developed with data scientist Miyata Hiroaki. The show aims to be accessible to all visitors, not just architects.
This exhibition matters because it offers the most comprehensive public look yet at Sou Fujimoto, one of Japan's most influential contemporary architects, known for his innovative, nature-inspired designs. By presenting his work in a major museum context, the show elevates architectural practice within the visual art world and invites broader cultural dialogue about the future of urban living. The inclusion of collaborative projects and speculative city models underscores architecture's role in addressing societal challenges, making the exhibition relevant beyond design circles.