EXHIBITOR MAGAZINE'S WORLD EXPO AWARDS BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY: SAUDI ARABIA

DESIGN: 59 Productions, Blkk Design, Done & Dusted, Fosters + Partners, Insignia Worldwide, Squint Opera, THA Staffing & Beyond Limits, TGP International

FABRICATION: RIMOND Japan KK, Ando Hazama, BeWunder, Black Engineering, TAIT, Tanseisha Co., Ltd.

Integrating pioneering technologies into “An Epic Journey of New Discoveries,” the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pavilion presented a standout immersive narrative by rethinking their venue as a programmable canvas. Infusing storytelling with technological innovation wove a mesmerizing and evolving tapestry into the surrounding architecture.

Promoted as a “ritual of shared memory and emotion,” the immersive theatrical experience Tales of Water reimagined a folk tale about Saudi Arabia's pearl divers and created an entrancing hero's journey of descent, discovery, and return. Enclosed within the towering walls of two-story central Saudi Courtyard, the choreography and design behind the 360-degree, ultra-high definition 4K audiovisual experience married a Saudi vocalist and a Japanese cellist with expansive animated film projections and spatialized sound effects evoking sea surges and mythical creatures. Precision-calibrated systems placed viewers within the heart of the story, and dynamic and real-time synchronization ensured each performance stood as a unique experience.

Turning visitors' experience with the sea from story to science, Sustainable Seas partnered with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to demonstrate a collaborative marine regeneration effort that was first spearheaded by a biomedical engineer who applied 3D bioprinting to mitigate coral loss. With 220 coral-like pieces as a focal point, the exhibit's live 3-D printing of eco-friendly coral structures led to daily additions to a growing coral wall. Through its rapid prototyping, cost-effectiveness, and scalability, the project exemplified sustainable innovation. Visitors also experienced an interactive gallery featuring dynamic textured environments layered with data and multilingual insights into Saudi Arabia's investments in energy, life sciences, and space exploration.

“The attention to detail on the projection mapping was extraordinary,” said one judge. “But in each exhibit, the technology was deployed with such creativity and purpose that visitors surely were drawn to return again and again.”

By Exhibitor magazine: Linda Armstrong, Sean Carlson, Danelle Dodds, Emily Olson, Nancy Olson, and Charles Pappas