Mifuneyama Rakuen Park was transformed into a resonating forest of cherry blossoms and maple leaves. Photos © teamlab

Everything is possible in the world of digital art where our imaginations can be enhanced beyond boundaries. It's a new world where very plain surroundings can be turned into virtual wonders right before our eyes.

This is an experience made possible by teamLab, a Tokyo-based art collective who made magic with a 500,000m² park called Mifuneyama Rakuen in Saga prefecture of Japan recently and turned it into "A Forest Where Gods Live" for more than three months, from summer to autumn.

It was so far the largest art display by the Japanese art group notable for their mastery of utilising the best of digital technology to connect people with nature. The collective was also in Bangkok last year to create an interactive theme park at CentralWorld, the first time Thai people had experienced such a digital playground. TeamLab promises to come back to town next year.

Based on the theme "Nature Becomes Art", the outdoor exhibition used magical lights, sizeable projections, invisible sensors and also rhythmic sound effects to wondrously turn nature into interactive artworks.

Having a night stroll in the park was like embarking on an exciting adventure in an immersive wonderland where we became beloved guests to the trees and seemingly dancing bushes that lit up and dimmed in reaction to our movements, giving us the impression that they were happy to see us.

Scattered around the vast area of this 172-year-old garden were 14 digital art installations that didn't only show the beauty of nature but also encouraged us to ponder the importance of our environment and how life is created and then decays.

One of the highlights was a giant mossy rock, standing nearly 6m-tall, which was turned into a big movie screen showing the life cycle of the park's seasonal flowers from when they bloomed and withered to when they fell and finally disappeared.

Another outstanding feature was a 3D waterfall as high as 8m, which was simulated to fall onto a large rock with waterfall sounds set on the background. This amazing work sent out computer-generated water that consisted of hundreds of thousands of water particles. With a closer look, we could even notice the realistic lines of water gently running down the rock.

What seemed to be the favourite attraction, however, was presented at the garden's scenic pond whose surface became an incredibly interactive canvas. This is where virtual myriad koi in vibrant colours were seen swimming joyfully, leaving behind vivid trails across the water surface. There was also a small boat afloat from a distance and when the oarsman began to row, all the koi that were gathering just dispersed.

It was hard to believe that this green park that rendered a sense of calm and relaxation at day could be easily turned into a lively art space decorated with glowing yet meaningful digital art creations at night. But, at least, we were certain that all the invisible "Gods" (as mentioned in the exhibition title) must have enjoyed themselves in this heavenly forest.

This exhibition is one of many other large-scale art projects teamLab has produced over the years. It's a good example of the group's success in using the natural landscape without causing it physical damage while trying to deliver a message about the relationship between humans and the environment.

The very same concept is also the focal point of "Light Festival In Fukuoka Castle Ruins", a new outdoor exhibition being held at Maizuru Park in Fukuoka prefecture. Visitors will have until Jan 28 next year to witness how this national historic treasure of Japan is transformed into another digital art space filled with magical lights and installations. This production will once again reflect teamLab's endeavour to push the boundaries between art and nature.

Founded 16 years ago, teamLab now has 450 staff with specialists from different fields, including artists, CG animators, architects, designers, programmers and engineers. The group hasn't only made its name in their homeland of Japan -- where their other works can also be seen in a shopping mall, a restaurant and even in a high-rise office building -- but also the world over.

TeamLab has so far brought a series of one-of-a-kind productions that we have never seen elsewhere before to exhibit in the big cities of Italy, France, the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea.

The pond became an interactive canvas.