Inside the Nordic Pavilion at Expo 2025: A Circle of Trust

As the world converges on Japan for Expo 2025 Osaka, SEGD is proud to recognize the member firms shaping this global moment through immersive storytelling, bold architecture, and place-based experience design.

  1. The suspended “Circle of Trust” at the Nordic Pavilion, designed by Gagarin, Kvorning and Rintala Eggertsson Architects, features animated light, sound and seasonal imagery. Photo by Daici Ano

At Expo 2025 Osaka, the five Nordic countries—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—unite under one roof to showcase their shared values and distinct cultural perspectives. Their joint exhibition, Circle of Trust: A Nordic Journey, offers a serene and poetic counterpoint to the bustle of the Expo grounds, immersing visitors in the Nordic way of life through light, sound, and story.

More than just a cultural showcase, the pavilion is a living expression of the region’s foundational principles. Designed by a pan-Nordic creative team of Gagarin Interactive (Iceland), Kvorning (Denmark), Rintala Eggertsson Architects (Norway), the exhibition brings the values of cooperation, trust, and sustainability to life through immersive storytelling and interactive design.

At the heart of the experience is the “Nordic Circle”—a unifying concept inspired by patterns in nature like flocks of birds and schools of fish. The circle symbolizes community, interdependence, and equality—core values deeply embedded in Nordic culture. Gagarín led the final development and narrative design for the exhibition, working in close collaboration with Kvorning (Denmark), Rintala Eggertsson Architects (Norway), and production partners Exponex (Czech Republic), Wintenex (Switzerland), and Habegger (Austria).

We looked to nature—how creatures move together as one, yet each with autonomy. That’s the essence of Nordic society. It’s also what connects us to the Japanese concept of the ensō circle: infinite, open, and whole. To represent the spirit of the Nordics on a global stage—and to do it through art, storytelling, and shared values—is something we’re honored to be part of.
Kristin Eva Ólafsdóttir, CEO of Gagarín

  1. Dynamic lighting and seasonal imagery transform the paper sculpture, immersing visitors in Nordic landscapes and everyday moments through Gagarín’s 20-minute film experience. Photo by František Bílek

  2. Vibrant architectural projections shift across the layered paper forms, echoing the diversity and unity at the core of the “Nordic Circle” concept. Photo by Daici Ano

Immersion Starts Before You Enter

Even before entering the pavilion, guests are invited to begin their journey with a digital “tasting menu” of the Nordics. Accessible via QR code, this interactive mobile experience transforms a visitor’s phone into a window into the region—offering 360° glimpses of Nordic nature, culture, and daily life across the five countries.

From Stillness to Story

Inside, the exhibition opens into a tranquil, softly lit space where children’s voices in Nordic languages and Japanese welcome visitors. Above, projections of swirling birds and schooling fish introduce the Nordic Circle—a living metaphor for societies built on trust, consensus, and cooperation.

The centerpiece of the main exhibition hall is a kinetic sculpture made from 700 sheets of paper, suspended from 980 cables. Designed as both an art installation and projection surface, the sculpture becomes animated by The Circle of Trust—a 20-minute film created by Gagarín. Spanning the four seasons, the film captures the rhythms of Nordic life: commuting, connecting, celebrating, and caring. The projected visuals flow across the paper forms in sync with an original score composed by Icelandic musicians Sindri Már Sigfússon (Sin Fang) and Kjartan Hólm.

  1. Interactive story stations explore Nordic themes like sustainability, health, and innovation through tactile design and animations. Photo by Daici Ano

  2. Visitors become part of the experience as they move through the immersive environment—designed to reflect Nordic values of openness, balance, and community. Photo by František Bílek

Interactivity with Intention

Surrounding the sculpture are nine interactive stories that explore what makes the Nordic countries unique—from technological innovation to social equity. Using earthy textures and flowing animations, each story invites visitors to step in and activate the narrative, answering key questions about how Nordic societies work together and why they are among the world’s most integrated regions.

Simplicity, Sustainability, and Scale

The Nordic Pavilion itself—designed by AMDL CIRCLE and engineered by Rimond—reflects the same values embodied in the exhibition. Shaped like a barn and constructed from Sugi wood, the 1,200-square-meter, 17-meter-tall structure includes a rooftop café, business lounge, and flexible event spaces. Its minimal, timeless design expresses a commitment to sustainability and functional elegance.

Installation of the central art piece took one week and spans nearly 3,000 square feet. Made from recycled and rice paper, the structure is both delicate and durable—stretching 85 meters and weighing just 1,700 kg.

  1. The exhibition’s layered projections portray everyday life—commuting, connecting, celebrating—highlighting the seasonality and shared values that shape the Nordic way of life. Photo by František Bílek

  2. From dawn-toned hues to deep blues, light and media shift constantly throughout the experience, mirroring nature’s cycles and the evolving stories of the North. Photo by František Bílek

A Milestone for Gagarín

For Reykjavík-based Gagarín, Circle of Trust marks the studio’s first exhibition project in Asia. With a 30-year legacy of creating immersive environments for museums and cultural institutions around the world, the project is both a professional milestone and a meaningful statement.

To represent the spirit of the Nordics on a global stage—and to do it through art, storytelling, and shared values—is something we’re honored to be part of.
Kristin Eva Ólafsdóttir, CEO of Gagarín

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