The Little Teashop in Tokyo by Julie Caplin Page 0,26

voice sang with excitement. ‘And you are going to love it. It’s the best. Better than boring old cherry blossom. Every year Jiji and Haha want to go.’ She rolled her eyes in true teenage fashion. ‘Boring, but don’t worry, where we’re going first is banging.’

Hmm. Fiona glanced at the anime school-girl outfit and wondered what cultural experience constituted banging while she tried to keep up with the enthusiastic teen. She managed to slow Mayu down enough to take a few pictures en route. She tried to capture the busyness of the city, but the elusive essence of Japan evaded her and when she looked at the digital view finder she was disappointed. There was something ‘other’ about the streets that she couldn’t quite capture. Frustration bubbled like an itch below the surface of her skin. What was missing? Why couldn’t she get it? The pictures seemed pedestrian and dull. God, she’d better up her game and pronto if she wanted to get enough material for an exhibition. This was where she could do with a proper mentor, someone who would actually take an interest.

‘We’re nearly there,’ said Mayu, the pitch in her voice rising, and then she threw an arm forward. ‘Borderless, Team Lab, digital art museum.’

Fiona nodded, having absolutely no idea what a digital art museum was.

They walked into the crowded foyer, paid their entrance fee and filed in with crowds of Japanese and Western tourists.

‘It’s the best place on earth,’ declared Mayu. ‘And we have to, have to, go to the Butterfly House, first. It’s major.’ And like a frantic butterfly herself, Mayu darted forward into a dark corridor following the signs. Fiona followed more slowly; she wasn’t very keen on flappy things and tended to avoid getting too close to birds, butterflies and moths.

Stepping inside the first room she realised her fears were unfounded as gentle music played and her eyes widened at the spectacle before her. The room was full of light and sound, butterflies growing and morphing before her eyes, projected onto a series of black screens that filled the room, dividing it into smaller spaces. Everywhere she looked a different scene was projected onto the walls. Colour and movement. Shapes and shades. A visual feast for the eyes. For a moment she stood trying to take it all in and then focused on one scene where hundreds of butterflies took flight, dappling a would-be sky.

It was impossible not to smile. Not to feel joyous as the magical sights and constant movement flooded the senses. Like a child, Mayu had darted away chasing a cloud of butterflies. Entranced, Fiona touched a flower which immediately wilted under her fingers before springing up and blooming again a few feet away. The floor and walls were alive with light and images that changed constantly as people interacted with them. Fiona had never seen anything like it before. It was impossible to take photos in here, she thought, not with the constantly changing light and besides, you’d lose the sense of immersing yourself in the scenes and images. Liberating, that was how she’d describe it. You had the freedom to wander, to watch, and to touch and see the constant changes. No scene was the same and your actions could change things. It was both fascinating and mesmerising. No wonder Mayu had been so excited.

And she was good company – enthusiastic, knowledgeable and desperate to show Fiona every last exciting gallery and section of the museum.

‘Here. Here. The waterfall, this is my favourite.’ With the sound of the rush of water and the detailed graphics, it was easy to believe you were standing underneath a waterfall and when Fiona touched the wall, to her amazement and delight, a cherry blossom began to bloom beneath her fingers, as flower after flower burst into life.

‘Cool, eh?’ asked Mayu

Fiona shook her head. ‘Way better than cool. It’s magical.’ The whole place was joyous, crazy, and utterly inspiring. While slightly frenetic and stimulating to the brain, to put it mildly, it was also in a weird and completely counter-intuitive way rather relaxing. The digital explosion of sight and sound was so absorbing, it left no room for anything else, which meant she could switch off from worrying about photography. You could only truly appreciate the magic by throwing yourself wholeheartedly into the interactive elements, take part in the magic, and be in the moment. Hadn’t Gabe said something about that yesterday?

You had to focus on the here and now. People, mused Fiona