100 colors gate exhibit welcomes people to Takanawa Gateway City

I’m the kind of person that is easily attracted to colors. Sure, there are times when I feel monochromatic but most of the time, I am drawn to colorful things like clothes, accessories, even structures. There is something about a tapestry of different hues that is refreshing to the eyes and the heart. So when I see something that uses a variety of colors, I am drawn to it and would either take pictures or even explore that area.

If ever you’re in Tokyo anytime soon the next couple of months, and you’re like me, drawn to colors, then visit “100 colors path”, the latest in the 100 colors series by Tokyo-based French artist Emmanuelle Moureaux (who’s also an architect and designer). This is the 53rd work in her “100 colors” series and it represents the passage time as told in 100 colors. This is also a celebration of the grand opening of Takanawa Gateway City, a new urban complex developed by East Japan Railway Company.

Designer: Emmanuelle Moureaux

This gate-shaped art installation is made up pf 2,400 lines arranged at equal intervals. Each line is engraved with a year from 2025 to 100 years into the future, specifically 2124 and each is coated in one of 100 colors. The lines are precisely spaced for a rhythmic experience, playing with overlapping hues and moiré patterns (when two or more lines are overlaid). As you move through the “gate” or when you change your perspective, the lines seem to appear and disappear. At the center is a cut out paath and as you step inside, you get the feeling of immersing yourself in 100 years of time.

There are also captivating graphic artworks installed at both the north and south ticket gates of Takanawa Gateway Station, seamlessly extending the “100 colors path” experience beyond the park. These vibrant visuals incorporate the same design language of flowing lines, rich colors, and chronological elements—displaying years just like the main installation—creating a cohesive and immersive atmosphere as commuters move through the station. In addition to the physical artworks, visitors can further engage with the project through an interactive augmented reality (AR) experience titled “100 colors city.” By using a smartphone, users can access a dynamic digital overlay that brings the vivid palette of 100 colors to life in their surroundings.

“100 colors no. 53 – 100 colors path” transforms a pedestrian plaza into a temporal threshold, where every color is a year, every step a moment lived. It’s a poetic fusion of art, time, and urban life and is perfectly timed to launch Takanawa Gateway City into a future of vibrancy and collective engagement. If you’re in Tokyo before July, this is a must-visit: walk through it, let the colors and numbers resonate, and imagine the century they represent.