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Read the following story by Apipar Norapoompipat from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Recently, we got the chance to tour the world’s first digital art museum in Tokyo.
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
TeamLab member Takashi Kudo led us through a maze of hanging crystal lights. “This is my favourite room,” he said with delight. With the LEDs dancing around us like stars, it felt like we were drifting through the universe. Taking out his phone, Takashi, with a swipe of his finger, suddenly made it rain.
White lights trickled down from the hanging crystal strips to give the impression of raindrops, changing the atmosphere completely. It was stunning. But the gorgeous display of light and sound was just the beginning.
Mori Building Digital Art Museum: teamLab Borderless is the world’s first digital art museum. Now open in Odaiba, Tokyo, it was founded by the wonderfully creative Japanese art collective teamLab. The museum is split into five zones and features 50 fully immersive artworks that connect and interact with visitors as well as with each other.
TIME AND SPACE
Using a complex network of 520 computers and 470 high-tech projectors, teamLab goes against all the conventions of the average art museum. Being borderless, visitors are encouraged to interact as much as possible with the artworks. With no map or clear-cut directions, they’re expected to move freely and wander around as much as they like.
“Visitors are going to get lost. Maybe they’re going to lose themselves too. They’re going to be inside this immersive world, and then they’re going to discover something through their experience. We believe a borderless world is beautiful. We’d like people to feel the same way too,” said Takashi.
SHIFTING COLOURS
Walking into one of the three dark entrances, we’re met by a dazzling display of colours. Inside the huge room, the walls, floors and ceilings are covered in flowers that shift and change colours according to the seasons. Every few minutes, a school of fish or a flock of butterflies travel across the walls and disappear into the other rooms.
Wandering through the exhibit, we sat beneath a waterfall, walked through a rice field, travelled into space and watched with wonder as flowers magically bloomed inside teacups, withering when we picked them up for a sip.
THE ART OF SCIENCE
On the upper floor stands the Athletics Forest where flowers bloom around your feet when you stand still. The more people, the more abundant they grow. But if you walk away, they wither and die.
“TeamLab’s aim is to try to find a new relationship between humans and the world, humans and nature, and humans and other people through art,” said Takashi.
TeamLab came to Bangkok in 2016, but sadly there are no current plans to bring their latest creation to the kingdom. So next time you’re in Tokyo, be sure to add the new teamLab show to your must-see list.
Section 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is the article about?
a. A museum that promotes natural art.
b. A museum that displays artificial and natural lighting.
c. The first digital art museum in the world.
2. Where is the museum located?
a. In Okayama.
b. In Tokyo.
c. In Osaka.
3. When did teamLab come to Thailand?
a. Last year.
b. Two years ago.
c. They haven’t been to Thailand yet.
4. Who is Takashi Kudo?
a. A member of teamLab.
b. The museum’s curator.
c. An art critic.
5. How many projectors does the museum use?
a. 520.
b. 470.
c. 350.
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the article?
a. The museum was funded by the Japanese government.
b. The museum is divided into 50 sections.
c. The Athletics Forest is located on the museum’s top floor.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the article?
a. TeamLab are a group of engineers.
b. The museum uses lots of computers to display its exhibitions.
c. Fifty artworks are on display at the museum.
Section 2
Match each of the following words used in the story with the correct definitions from the choices given.
| 8. immersive | a. to communicate with somebody, especially while you work, play or spend time with them |
| 9. sip | b. impressing somebody very much |
| 10.borderless | c. lacking edges, limits or boundaries |
| 11. dazzling | d. to drink something, taking a very small amount each time |
| 12. clear-cut | e. definite and easy to see or identify |
| 13. interact |
f. used to describe a computer system or image that seems to surround the user |
Section 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
“This project is very important to us,” said Takashi. “We want to make people more …..14….. With 500 members …..15….. of artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians and architects creating …..16….. remarkable pieces, the team has no boundaries to …..17….. creativity. We use light …..18….. paint and our canvas is the world. Our dream is to create a city out of digital art, and in that city, people will be positive toward …..19….. another.”
14.
a. creation
b. creatively
c. creative
15.
a. consisted
b. consisting
c. to consist
16.
a. such
b. plenty
c. each
17.
a. theirs
b. them
c. their
18.
a. instead of
b. because of
c. for the sake of
19.
a. each
b. one
c. the
Section 4
Write down the noun forms of the following words used in the story.
20. discover
…………………………
21. abundant
…………………………
22. magically
…………………………
23. connect
…………………………
24. completely
…………………………
Section 1
1. c.
2. b.
3. b.
4. a.
5. b.
6. c.
7. a.
Section 2
8. f.
9. d.
10. c.
11. b.
12. e.
13. a.
Section 3
14. c.
15. b.
16. a.
17. c.
18. a.
19. b.
Section 4
20. Discovery/discoverer.
21. Abundance.
22. Magic/magician.
23. Connection/connector/connectivity.
24. Completion/completeness.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
