BEIJING, June 24 -- Israel will highlight innovation in its pavilion at
World Expo 2010 along with putting a spotlight on ancient Jewish culture.
The country signed a participation contract with Expo organizers today and
revealed Israel Pavilion will look like two clasped hands.
The two dynamic forms symbolize Israeli innovation and technology, said
Irit Ben-Abba, the State of Israel¡¯s commissioner general for Expo 2010.
The message of Israel to World Expo is ¡°Innovation for Better Life.¡± It
will echo the theme of the 2010 event, which is ¡°Better City, Better Life,¡± said
Ben-Abba.
¡°Israel constantly seeks to contribute a substantial share to the world¡¯s
leading innovations in art, science, literature and design and we believe
innovation will contribute to better life,¡± Ben-Abba said after signing a
contract in Shanghai.
She added the 2,000-square-meter pavilion could also represent the dialogue
between humanity and nature, the earth and sky, as well as the past and the
future.
The pavilion consists of three areas -- Whispering Garden, Hall of Light
and Hall of Innovations.
The Whispering Garden is a green orchard that greets visitors as they enter
the building. Some facilities will be installed to make the trees begin to
¡°whisper¡± in both English and Chinese when visitors walk close to them, Haim Z.
Dotan, chief designer of the pavilion, told Shanghai Daily.
The hall of Light includes a 15-meter high screen. It will display films
highlighting the country¡¯s innovations and technological achievements.
The Hall of Innovation is the centerpiece of the Israel Pavilion. A special
audio-visual show will allow visitors to talk with Israeli children, scientists,
doctors and inventors via hundreds of screens. These Israelis will introduce
themselves and share their hopes for a better future.
It will not be a face-to-face talk because the talks will be pre-recorded,
Dotan said. He told Shanghai Daily that visitors could hold a genuine
conversation with Israeli people in the virtual Israel Pavilion at Expo Shanghai
Online.
Expo Shanghai Online is an innovation of Expo 2010. It offers a
three-dimensional virtual visit to the Expo site via the Internet. Israel also
signed a contract today to participate in Expo Shanghai Online.
Israel allocated about US$6 million for its participation at Expo 2010,
which includes the cost of its pavilion and other activities.
It is the first time Israel has committed to building a national pavilion
at a World Expo.
So far, 227 countries, regions and international organizations have
confirmed they will participate at Expo 2010.
(Source: en.expo2010.cn)
