The nearby islands of Inujima and Teshima house continuations of the remarkable Benesse Art Site Naoshima project. Some 3,000 islands dot the Seto Inland Sea of Japan, which separates Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, three of the four main islands of. The Benesse House complex comprises four exclusive hotels designed by Ando, including the Museum branch, which houses a great collection of contemporary art. Though Ando’s many buildings on the island are undisputed artworks in their own right – even inspiring some neologism-hungry critics to call him an ‘art-itect’ – the Chichu Art Museum is his true masterpiece. Twelve of these, known collectively as the “art islands,” are home to contemporary artworks and exhibits that have become an integral part of the islands’ scenery. Japan’s hidden island has an incredible secret THIS remote island hides a beautiful secret. The five main islands of Japan are:. The same as I did, Karam found the Claude Monet Space a shock. ; Kyushu - the third largest main island and nearest to the Asian continent. If you are enamored by modern architecture, minimalist art and the most beautifully finished slabs of concrete on the planet, then there might just be: its name is Naoshima, off the coast of Honshu, Japan. Once on the island, I see that the word has spread far and wide: I now congregate with fellow pilgrims from Argentina, Canada and the UK. While admiring iconic pieces by the likes of Yves Klein, Cy Twombly, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yasumasa Morimura, Andy Warhol and Richard Long, I rub shoulders with the lucky bunch actually staying at the hotel. A remote island with stunning underground architecture. Stay at some of the world’s most unique and luxurious hotels and ryokans . I didn't expect my visit to the Japanese "art island" of Naoshima to remind me of the world of. Naoshima, commonly known as Japan’s art island, is a tiny island in the Seto Inland Sea, and one of our absolute favorite places in Japan. Déjà vu! The scenic trek begins with a train ride (consider a JR pass ) to either Uno or Takamatsu Port where a ferry ticket is must then be bought for Naoshima's ferry terminals, either Miyanoura (most common) or Honmura. Permanent site-specific work: Being Given (2001, Kinza Naoshima Art House Project, Benesse Art Site Naoshima). When I visited, I was the only person in the room (not counting an attendant who stood in a corner as still as a sculpture). Visitors remove their shoes at the entrance and are given soft slippers. As my pupils very gradually dilate, I begin to make out a dark grey rectangle suspended on the opposite end of the room. Today, it is a must-visit destination for art lovers and travellers seeking a one-of-a-kind holiday. The "art island" of Naoshima is dotted with calming concrete installations a world away from Tokyo's frenetic pace. And, of course, an overall unusually art-filled island. There are many art museums and sculptures on the island. After trumpeting the death of faith with their Gabriel’s horn, pundits of our secular century have crowned art as the new religion, with the museum as its church. The next triennale is expected to take place in 2022. Teshima island is a continuation of Benesse Art Site Naoshima. Naoshima's transformation into a unique art project began in 1987, when Soichiro Fukutake, the chairman of Fukutake Publishing, now known as the Benesse Holdings, Inc., purchased the south side of the island. Some of Ando's buildings became part of the. We already have this email. Upon entering the building with a small group in tow, I try to navigate my way in pitch-black darkness, feeling a wave of anxiety approaching since this is what I imagine blindness to be. Rei Naito Born in Hiroshima, 1961. Degree in visual communication design from Musashino Art University, 1985. Naoshima is famous for its contemporary art museums as well as outdoor contemporary art installations throughout the island. After five minutes, the rectangle takes on a lighter shade of grey before eventually turning white. Photo by Kimon Berlin. Now they misdirect perplexed tourists who just want to see some art and exit through the gift shop. If you're visiting at other times of the year, some works are permanent island fixtures. Adhering to his guiding principle of designing buildings that follow the natural forms of landscapes, Ando's buildings on the island blend into or are built into the earth, some of them opening up to the sky. Understand []. Opened in 2004, the island's Chichu Art Museum showcases its collection in spectacular and unexpected ways. Limited accommodation on the island mean the number of visitors is limited. 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