A Magical Encounter at the Threshold of the Exhibition

At the entrance, two fantastical creatures greet visitors and invite them to step into the world of the exhibition.
On one side stands a chimera—originally drawn by Viollet-le-Duc—rescued from the fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, now having crossed continents to reach Osaka.
Facing it is a monumental Aubusson tapestry titled Ashitaka Tending to His Cursed Wound, depicting a scene from Princess Mononoke, the acclaimed masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki and a powerful ode to the protection of biodiversity.
These two remarkable works, steeped in history, engage in a symbolic dialogue between the preservation and resilience of both natural and cultural heritage, setting the stage for the journey that awaits within the Pavilion.