Interactive Exhibition on the Polish Language – “The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi” in Osaka

Polish culture in digital form – an interactive exhibition with an AI module in Osaka On 3 October 2025, the prestigious Knowledge Capital in Osaka will inaugurate the next edition of the exhibition “The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi”. For the first time, the project will use artificial intelligence technology, allowing visitors to take an interactive journey through the language and culture of Poland. The event forms part of the Po!land ポ！ランド cultural programme, organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute to accompany Poland’s participation in EXPO 2025 World Exhibition in Osaka, Kansai.

The interactive exhibition “The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi” debuts in Japan

Following the international success of the book “Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi. Poland in 100 Words” – an unconventional story about the Polish language – its continuation will take the form of an interactive exhibition in Japan. On 3 October 2025, the fourth edition of the exhibition will debut at the Knowledge Capital in Osaka, incorporating the potential of artificial intelligence for the first time. Thanks to the collaboration of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Knowledge Capital Association, and Atsuhiko Yasuda (XOOMS Co. Ltd.), the exhibition will be enhanced with an AI module, allowing visitors to engage in dialogue with artificial intelligence inspired by the content of the book. This innovative solution, made possible through close Polish–Japanese cooperation, enables visitors to experience “The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi”, previously presented at EXPO 2020 in Dubai, London, and Basel, in a completely new way.

The project is a part of the series of events entitled Po!land ポ！ランド, organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as part of the cultural programme accompanying Poland’s participation in the EXPO 2025 World Exposition, which has been made possible by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.

“Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi. Poland in 100 Words” – a bestseller about Poland and its language in 100 words

“Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi. Poland in 100 Words” is a best-selling publication that has won the recognition of readers and media worldwide since its release in 2018. This visual and linguistic panorama of Poland was created with foreign audiences in mind, presenting 100 words that best reflect 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 sharp observations, linguistic curiosities, and cultural references, while the unique visual layer was created by painter and illustrator Magda Burdzyńska. In 2021, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute published a Japanese translation 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), prepared by Yasuko Shibata.

The exhibition “The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi” continues the success of the book, offering a fascinating, multidimensional exploration of the Polish language. It 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 soundtrack. A new feature of this year’s exhibition is a unique interactive solution based on artificial intelligence, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in Polish language and culture. A dedicated panel with a screen enables visitors to converse with AI, discover interesting facts about Poland, and learn a few Polish words along with their correct pronunciation, creating a modern experience that combines technology and culture. All these elements introduce visitors to the mysterious, unusual, and somewhat surreal world of the Polish language, where they encounter strange linguistic creatures, literary curiosities, and other wonders of Polish culture. 

Technology as a bridge between languages and cultures – AI in culture

The exhibition “Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi. Poland in 100 Words” aims to familiarise Japanese audiences with the specifics of the Polish language and the atmosphere of Polish culture, while encouraging further exploration. It will also introduce visitors to Polish–Japanese cultural ties, particularly in the field of literature. Visitors will learn how Japanese inspirations influenced the work of Nobel Prize winner Władysław Reymont, the fantastic visions of Tadeusz Miciński, and the poetry of 20th-century luminaries Zbigniew Herbert, Czesław Miłosz, and Wisława Szymborska. 

“The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi” will open on 3 October 2025 at the Knowledge Capital in Osaka and remain open to visitors until 23 October 2025. The exhibition will be accompanied by art workshops, meet the author sessions, and curator-led tours. 

• 3 October 2025, 5:00 pm – inaugural concert by the band Małe Instrumenty at the Knowledge Capital 

• 4 October 2025, from 1 pm to 4 pm – guided tours in 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 art workshops for children and adults.

• 5 October 2025, from 1 pm to 4 pm – guided tours in 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 art workshops for children and adults. 

Po!land ポ！ランド programme – Poland’s cultural presence in Japan during EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai

The event forms part of the Po!land ポ！ランド cultural programme, organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute to accompany Poland’s participation in EXPO 2025 World Exhibition in Osaka, Kansai. During the six-month EXPO 2025 World Exhibition in Osaka, more than 160 countries and regions will showcase their offer in the fields of economy, tourism, and culture. The Polish Investment and Trade Agency is responsible for Poland’s participation in EXPO 2025. The main venue for Poland’s presentation is the national pavilion, covering nearly 1,000 m², with promotional activities carried out under the slogan “Heritage that drives the future”. Poland’s participation in the Exhibition is accompanied by a cultural programme organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in Osaka, under the name Po!land ポ！ランド. The slogan is inspired by the Japanese onomatopoeia “Po!”, used to express epiphany and pleasant surprise. This joyful “Po!” also alludes to polonium – a chemical element discovered by Maria Skłodowska-Curie and symbolising innovativeness, science, and transgressing borders. Juxtaposed with “ランド” (rando), borrowed from the English “land”, Po!land becomes a space for exchanging ideas, meeting of cultures, and mutual inspirations. 

In addition to the exhibition “The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi”, the cultural programme in October will also feature other artistic events. On 4–5 October, Namba Square will host Sound Culture. Poland × Japan Music Festival – a two-day celebration of alternative music, during which Polish and Japanese artists will present premiere projects combining jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, and experimental music. Meanwhile, from 4 to 12 October, the renowned Sinfonia Varsovia will embark on a concert tour of Japan, performing in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto as part of a series of concerts showcasing Polish classical music in a unique setting. More information is available at the website https://iam.pl/en.

“The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi” – Exhibition at the Knowledge Capital, Osaka

• Exhibition title: “The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants and Pierogi”

• Dates: 3–23 October 2025

• 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

• Visual concept, illustrations and animations: Magdalena Burdzyńska

• Text: Mikołaj Gliński, Adam Żuławski

• Exhibition scenario: Mikołaj Gliński, Berenika Glińska

• Translation into Japanese and consultation: Yasuko Shibata

• Sound installation: Krzysztof Pawlik Stream Media

• Dubbing in animations: Adam Żuławski in English and Hiroaki Murakami in Japanese

• AI project: Atsuhiko Yasuda XOOMS co. ltd.

• Project manager: Agata Opieka

• Concept and execution: Sylwia Jabłońska

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

• Organiser and producer: Adam Mickiewicz Institute

• Special cooperation: Knowledge Capital Association in Osaka

• Partner: Polish Institute in Tokyo

• Partner: Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Tokyo