EXPO 2025 in Osaka: Interactive Exhibition about the Polish Language… the World’s First Using AI

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Illustration by Magdalena Burdzyńska for the exhibition 'The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi', presented as part of EXPO 2025 Osaka from October 3 to 23, 2025, Knowledge Capital in Osaka, photo by Magdalena Burdzyńska for the Adam Mickiewicz Institute

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Fri, 10/03/2025 - 15:27 - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 15:27

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Following the international success of ‘Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 100 Words’ – an unconventional book about the Polish language – a remarkable exhibition based on its pages will soon arrive back in Japan. The seventh edition of the exhibition will open on 3 October 2025 at Knowledge Capital in central Osaka, this time utilising the potential of artificial intelligence for the first time.

Thanks to a collaboration between the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Knowledge Capital Association, and Atsuhiko Yasuda (XOOMS co. ltd.), the exhibition will be enhanced with an AI module that enables visitors to engage in dialogue with artificial intelligence inspired by the book’s content. This innovation, made possible by close Polish-Japanese collaboration, allows visitors to experience ‘The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi’ – previously shown at EXPO 2020 in Dubai, London, and Basel – in an entirely new way. The project is part of Po!landポ！ランド, a series of events organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and funded by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. It is part of the cultural programme accompanying Poland’s participation in the World Expo 2025, coordinated by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.

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Book cover of the Japanese edition of 'Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 101 Words', text: Mikołaj Gliński, Matthew Davies, Adam Żuławski, editing: Adam Żuławski, translation by Yasuko Shibata, illustrations and book design: Magdalena Burdzyńska, publishing house: Adam Mickiewicz Institute, 2021, photo: Grażyna Makara

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Since its 2018 premiere, the bestselling ‘Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 100 Words’ has won praise from readers and media outlets around the world. Designed for an international audience, the book presents 100 words that best capture Polish culture, history and everyday life in an original, accessible and humorous way.

The texts, written by Mikołaj Gliński, Matthew Davies and Adam Żuławski, are full of witty observations, linguistic curiosities and cultural references, while its distinctive visual style was created by painter and illustrator Magda Burdzyńska.

The exhibition ‘The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi’ continues the success of the book, creating a fascinating, multidimensional story about the Polish language. The exposition combines illustrations inspired by the publication with various artistic forms – from embroidery, textiles and sculptures, to neon lights and video animations – all accompanied by an original sound installation.

The innovation of this year’s edition is a unique, interactive experience based on artificial intelligence that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the Polish language and Poland’s culture. A special panel with a screen will enable guests to converse with the AI, discover interesting facts about Poland, and learn several Polish words along with their correct pronunciation, creating a modern experience that merges technology and culture.

All these elements combined lead audiences through the mysterious, extraordinary and slightly surreal land of the Polish language, in which they can encounter quirky linguistic creatures, literary curiosities and other wonders of Polish culture. The exhibition’s aim is to familiarise Japanese audiences with the Polish language’s character and the atmosphere of Poland’s culture, while encouraging them to explore further.

The exhibition will also explore cultural connections between Poland and Japan, particularly in literature. Visitors will learn how Japanese inspirations appeared in the works of Nobel laureate Władysław Reymont, in the fantastical visions of Tadeusz Miciński, and in the poetry of the 20th-century greats Zbigniew Herbert, Czesław Miłosz and Wisława Szymborska.

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View from the exhibition ‘The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants and Pierogi’, 23 June 2022 at BWA Tarnów, photo by Przemek Sroka / BWA Tarnów

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The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi will open on 3^rd October 2025 at Knowledge Capital in Osaka, and run until 23^rd October 2025. It will be accompanied by a programme of art workshops, author meet-and-greets, and guided tours.

The book ‘Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 100 Words’ is the inspiration behind the exhibition.

The exhibition was inspired by the original English-language edition of ‘Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 100 Words’, which tells non-Polish readers all about Polish language and culture in an unconventional manner. Written by Matthew Davies, Mikołaj Gliński and Adam Żuławski, with illustrations and design by Magda Burdzyńska, the book has won multiple awards and gone through several printings. In 2021, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute published the Japanese translation, now called ‘Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 101 Words’ (素粒子、象とピエロギとーー101語のポーランド), translated by Yasuko Shibata.

The exhibition is part of Po!land ポ！ランド, a cultural programme organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute to accompany the participation of Poland in World EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Kansai.

During the six-month World Expo 2025 now on in Osaka, over 160 countries and regions are presenting their achievements in economy, tourism and culture. Poland’s participation is managed by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency. The main showcase will be the Polish Pavilion, with its floor space of almost 1,000m², alongside promotional activities under the theme ‘Heritage That Drives the Future’. The cultural programme, organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in the city spaces under the banner Po!landポ！ランド, complements the pavilion’s events. The phrase Po!land is inspired by the Japanese onomatopoeia “Po!”, expressing a moment of enlightenment or pleasant surprise. This joyful “Po!” is also a nod to Polonium, the element discovered by Maria Skłodowska-Curie, symbolising innovation, science and breaking boundaries. Combined with “ランド” (‘rando’, a loanword from the English ‘land’), Po!land becomes a space for the exchange of ideas, cultural encounters and mutual inspiration.

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View from the exhibition ‘The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants and Pierogi’, 23 June 2022 at BWA Tarnów, photo by Magdalena Burdzyńska

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The official opening of the exhibition will take place on 3 October 2025.

Accompanying events:

4^th October 2025, 1pm-4pm: guided tours of the exhibition in both Japanese and English, meetings with the authors of the book “Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 101 Words” (素粒子、象とピエロギとーー101語のポーランド), and creative art workshops for children and adults.

5^th October 2025, 1pm-4pm: guided tours of the exhibition in both Japanese and English, meetings with the authors of the book “Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 101 Words” (素粒子、象とピエロギとーー101語のポーランド), and creative art workshops for children and adults.

Address: The Lab. The world’s best laboratory for everyone by everyone, Knowledge Capital, Grand Front Osaka North Building 2nd Fl., 3-1 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka 〒530-0011

Exhibition title: ‘The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants and Pierogi’

Visual concept, illustrations & animations: Magdalena Burdzyńska

Text: Mikołaj Gliński & Adam Żuławski

Exhibition script: Mikołaj Gliński & Berenika Glińska

Translation & Japanese consultant: Yasuko Shibata

Sound installation: Krzysztof Pawlik Stream Media

Animation voice-overs: Adam Żuławski (English) & Hiroaki Murakami (Japanese)

AI project: Atsuhiko Yasuda XOOMS co. ltd.

Project manager: Agata Opieka

Concept & implementation: Sylwia Jabłońska

Adam Mickiewicz Institute team: Halszka Kostecka, Patryk Laban & Paweł Pachciarek

Organisation & production: Adam Mickiewicz Institute

Special cooperation: Knowledge Capital Association

Partners: Polish Institute in Tokyo & Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Tokyo

^The^{Adam Mickiewicz Institute (AMI}^{) connects Polish culture with people around the world. As a state institution, it fosters lasting interest in Polish culture and art, strengthening the presence of Polish artists on the global stage. It initiates innovative projects, supports international collaboration and promotes cultural exchange. The institute promotes the work of both established and emerging creators, showcasing the richness and diversity of Polish culture. The Adam Mickiewicz Institute also runs Culture.pl, a comprehensive online source of knowledge about Polish culture. For more, visit}^iam.pl^.

Venue

The Lab. The world’s best laboratory for everyone by everyone, Knowledge Capital

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