A historic moment took place at Ostrava airport in Czech Republic on 23rd January 2025: the unique project “Forest of Civilization” was loaded into containers and sent to the EXPO 2025 World Exhibition in Osaka. This breathtaking project, which combines the story of thousands of years old subfossil oak trunks and modern art, was created by the Czech company Subfossil Oak. The project is under the auspices of the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic.
This internationally acclaimed project gained further prestige when Fujimoto Sou, one of the world’s most celebrated architects, selected it as a standalone exhibit for EXPO 2025. Subfossil Oak is the only small enterprise in this exclusive global innovation competition, a testament to the exceptional cultural and artistic value of its work.
The exhibit combines historical beauty and contemporary elegance, making it one of the most exclusive materials sought after by artists and scientists around the world.
The “Forest of Civilization” is more than just an art installation – it is a luxury experience with a living witness of the last Ice Age. In this forest, each country participating in Expo 2025 will have one of the 6,500-year-old trees dedicated to and named after them. These incredibly rare ancient trees, with thousands of years of history encoded in their annual rings, symbolize the connection between history and the future, creating the largest exhibition of its kind in history. Trunks that have been hidden in the ground for more than 6,000 years are now coming to life as a profound reminder of humanity’s shared heritage, the resilience of nature, and the interconnectedness of the world within one organic system.
The project, consisting of 133 pieces of this exclusive material, aspires to enter the Guinness Book of Records. It is the story of a treasure hidden for thousands of years, now brought to light to connect the past with the future, delivering a powerful message of sustainability and cultural heritage to the world.
Subfossil Oak trunks have already earned a place in renowned museums and private collections worldwide, including the Natural History museum in London, Kew Gardens and prestige Monaco Yacht Show.
On January 23, the trunks weighing several tons were unveiled before heading to Japan. This was the last opportunity to capture this exceptional project on European soil. The CEO of Subfossil Oak was present on site and gave interviews to the local media.
We are happy to provide more information about the project and footage of the loading and shipment of Subfossil Oak towards Osaka, Japan.