Resonanzen im Jahr der Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai - Skizzen, Bilder, Fotografien und Bücher zur Weltausstellung

In the organizer's words:

On the occasion of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, which took place in Japan from April 13 to October 13, 2025, the Japanese Cultural Institute is presenting works by Thomas Schriefers, who traveled to Japan several times as an Expo expert and recorded his impressions in sketches and drawings. After his works have already been shown in recent months at the Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB), the German Embassy in Tokyo, the German Consulate General Osaka/Kobe and the City Hall there, the exhibition in Cologne marks the end of the series.

The works open up a variety of possibilities for looking back on the Expo, which attracted particular attention architecturally with the Grand Ring. The grid-shaped ring, whose elements are linked together in traditional Japanese construction, was designed by the outstanding Japanese architect Fujimoto Sou (*1971) and encloses the Expo site with an area of more than 61,000 square meters.

The exhibition shows images of iconic architecture from various world expos of the past, with a focus on the two expos in Osaka in 1970 and 2025. In addition to original documents from the years 1851 to 2025, including publications of Japanese contributions, new drawings and photographs of the Expo site as well as Thomas Schriefers' current sketchbook are on display.

Thomas Schriefers summarizes his impressions as follows: "The general theme of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is Designing Future Society for Our Lives. In Osaka, the question is how we want to organize our future lives in a reflective society. In addition to fundamental questions on solving the numerous global problems, the focus is on the peaceful coexistence of nations. In Osaka, the focus is on people, nature and the environment around us, particularly in the centrally located "Signature Zone". As the thematic heart, this is located in the middle of the "Global Village" set up there as a place that gives the public a strong impression of Japanese perspectives and encourages them to see themselves as part of a community. Alongside the Grand Ring, the pavilions of the participating nations form the framework for togetherness in a protected space."

In cooperation with the
Japanese-German Center Berlin

Price information:

Free admission Please note that the institute is closed Mon - Fri between 1 and 2 pm.