Zero Gravity: Experiencing Rebirth and the Future at Expo 2025 Osaka

As Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, unfurls its vision for "Designing Future Society for our Lives," the global community is engaged in a profound exploration of sustainable living, emerging sciences, and evolving technologies. Among the myriad innovations poised to shape tomorrow, a groundbreaking project marries art, technology, and human experience: the "Zero Gravity Box." This immersive installation, a collaboration led by Japanese artist and fashion designer Naoko Tosa, offers visitors a unique journey back to the origin of life, while simultaneously propelling them into a futuristic realm of weightlessness.

The "Zero Gravity Box," a marvel of engineering created with the cooperation of TOPPAN and Shimadzu Corporation, forms part of a larger presentation by Naoko Tosa's Art Innovation Academia-Industry Joint Research Division at the Kyoto University Disaster Prevention Research Institute. Designed to be experienced through simulated parabolic flights, the installation meticulously recreates the serene, boundless environment akin to a mother’s womb before birth, or the tranquility of a deep-sea dive. Within this innovative space, participants are invited to regress to the state of a newborn, enveloped by the ethereal "Sound of Ikebana" and the rhythmic cadence of a mother’s heartbeat. It’s a nostalgic simulation, meticulously crafted to evoke a profound sense of rebirth and a glimpse into future human experiences.

At the heart of this pioneering project is Elton Ilirjani, globally recognized by his model name HANKO, a poignant nod to his Albanian mother. More than just a model, Ilirjani is a renowned human rights activist, LGBT advocate, and performance artist known for his distinctive approach to the runway. For the "Zero Gravity Box" project, Ilirjani became an integral part of the performance art, entering the chamber clad in an avant-garde outfit designed by Naoko Tosa. His face, painted white and adorned with blue crystals, evoked an otherworldly, ethereal presence, perfectly complementing the futuristic premise.

Recounting his transformative experience, Ilirjani shared, "The whole experience was reminiscent of being inside your mother’s womb, when you are an embryo, hearing the heartbeat of your mother. This experience is more than art and fashion, it’s the future. Weightlessness is something people will experience in the future, since people will travel to other planets." He further highlighted the project's alignment with his own advocacy for inclusivity, noting, "There is no gender gap either which is perfect with my project, the genderless modeling. There is no gap in genders, weightlessness, smart mirrors, wonderful sounds, Embryo, its futuristic and together with the colors and how it was composed it was giving micro-gravity or zero gravity."

Ilirjani's unique journey into the fashion world began in 2019, when he discovered the 3NY boutique in New York City, known for its curated selection of Asian designers. His initial interest as a customer, coupled with his significant 12 million Instagram followers from his activism, led him to showcase these designs, tagging the creators. This organic connection blossomed into friendships with designers, eventually leading to invitations to walk for them at prestigious events from New York Fashion Week to Seoul Fashion Week. He first graced the runway for BESFXXK and has since become a global fixture, walking for designers at major fashion weeks in New York, Milan, Paris, London, Athens, Costa Rica, Miami, and Tokyo, including esteemed names like Jemma Russo, Malan Breton, and Ema Savahl, and notably, Naoka Tosa herself at the most recent New York Fashion Week.

Yet, Elton Ilirjani transcends the traditional role of a runway model. He is a committed performance artist and a vocal advocate for genderless modeling, championing inclusiveness within the often-exclusive fashion industry. Known for his captivating runway openings, Ilirjani doesn't merely showcase a collection; he imbues each walk with a performative artistry influenced by trailblazing figures like Yoko Ono, Marina Abramovic, and Michele Lamy. For Ilirjani, the runway is a stage where he shares a story about inclusive modeling and universal beauty, moving slowly and deliberately, enthralling viewers with his unique presence.

The "Zero Gravity Box" at Expo 2025 Osaka perfectly encapsulates the Expo's central theme, demonstrating how groundbreaking technology can foster co-creation and address societal challenges by pushing the boundaries of human experience. Through this fusion of advanced simulation, art, and performance, visitors are offered a tangible glimpse into a future where technology redefines our understanding of self and our place in the universe. As Elton Ilirjani eloquently put it, "I’m proud to be part of this project. I could hear my heartbeat inside the box. I could remember being a fetus inside my mother. The future of life. It gave me a touch of the universe, it elevated me to another level."

The Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, running until October 13, 2025, continues to be a global platform for such pioneering projects, illustrating humanity's collective ambition to design a sustainable and inclusive future.