Expo 2025: A global gathering for progress
Held every five years, World Expos bring nations together to explore solutions to global challenges. Expo 2025 will take place in Osaka, Japan, from 13 April to 13 October 2025, marking the city’s third time hosting after previous events in 1970 and 1990. The event will be held on Yumeshima Island, featuring a circular timber structure inspired by Japan’s architectural heritage, with rooftop walkways offering panoramic views of Osaka Bay.
The theme, Designing Future Society for Our Lives, encourages discussions on how to build sustainable, inclusive communities. It includes three sub-themes: Connecting Lives (focusing on technology and data-driven societies), Empowering Lives (enhancing human potential through AI and robotics), and Saving Lives (protecting against diseases and disasters). The People’s Living Lab concept will provide a collaborative space for innovation, where visitors can engage with exhibits and contribute ideas for a better future.
A space for change and collaboration
At the heart of the Women’s Pavilion lies a powerful vision of equality, where all individuals can reach their full potential. Cartier, a long-time advocate for gender equality, believes that when women thrive, humanity thrives. This belief drives the Pavilion’s mission — to celebrate, empower, and inspire by showcasing the power of collaboration in creating a more equitable world.
Following its success at Expo 2020 Dubai, the Pavilion continues to build a lasting legacy, resonating across generations. Embracing Expo 2025’s theme, Living Together, Designing Together, For the Future, the Women’s Pavilion expands the conversation beyond gender to explore coexistence and sustainability. It envisions a world where individuals, societies, and regions work together to balance environmental responsibility with social progress.
The Pavilion’s striking Kumiko-inspired façade, designed by Japanese architect Yuko Nagayama, symbolises a bridge between tradition and modernity. Originally introduced at Expo 2020 Dubai, the structure has been repurposed for Osaka, reflecting Cartier’s commitment to sustainability.
Local trees surrounding the Pavilion will be returned to the mountains after the Expo, reinforcing the regenerative cycle of nature. Drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese machiya townhouses, the Pavilion integrates geometric patterns and natural elements, creating a harmonious space for connection and collaboration.
An immersive artistic journey
Inside, visitors will embark on an immersive experience curated by artist and Global Artistic Lead Es Devlin. Viewing World Expos as “a collection of unique instruments,” Devlin envisions the Pavilion as a space where personal stories spark global conversations. Through interactive installations, guests will reflect on gender equality, contribute their names to the narrative, and engage in participatory experiences designed to inspire collective action. The Pavilion transforms each group of visitors into a “rehearsal community,” encouraging new perspectives on urgent global issues.
An extraordinary collective of artists brings the Pavilion’s message to life: Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase directs the Pavilion’s prelude movie, while French actress and artist Mélanie Laurent explores women’s empowerment through portraits, sculptures, and virtual reality. Hiro Chiba’s innovative chlorograph portraits, created with Laurent, add a unique artistic dimension.
Multidisciplinary artist Mariko Mori contributes a piece centred on togetherness, while landscape designer Toshiya Ogino’s sustainable garden showcases Japan’s seasonal beauty. Sacai designer Chitose Abe blends harmony and modernity in the uniforms created for the Pavilion’s attendants.
A global forum for ideas
On the Pavilion’s second floor, the WA Space serves as an agora for discussions, panels, and exhibitions tackling key global challenges. Experts, activists, and leaders will collaborate on real-world solutions across six themes: Mother Nature, Business & Technology, Education & Policy, Arts & Culture, Philanthropy, and Roles & Identities. By fostering these vital conversations, the Women’s Pavilion aims to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Through thought-provoking storytelling, artistic expression, and collaborative engagement, the Women’s Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka stands as a powerful testament to the transformative impact of women in society. By celebrating their contributions and fostering meaningful dialogue, Cartier continues its commitment to building a more equitable and inspired world for generations to come.
Images courtesy of Cartier
This article originally appeared on our sister publication Global Citizen Club.