Setouchi Art Islands: A Journey That Awakens the Soul

Hello.

Embarking on a journey in search of the profound resonance that art provides in our lives is always an exhilarating experience. This is especially true when it comes to places where the breath of nature and the inspiration of artists intertwine to create new narratives. Today, I would like to introduce you to a pilgrimage to the 'Art Islands' located in Japan's Setouchi Inland Sea. It is a journey that starts from Kyoto, a city of serene beauty, and explores the true artistic sanctuary filled with masterpieces created by Tadao Ando's architecture and nature, encompassing Naoshima and Teshima. Amidst the harmony of concrete, light, and nature, our gaze will deepen, and our senses will become more acute. I invite you to join this special journey.

The Road from Kyoto to Setouchi: The Beginning of a Journey

This journey, commencing in Kyoto, where the aesthetics of an ancient capital breathe, is a work of art in itself. As you board the Shinkansen from Kyoto Station to Okayama, the Japanese scenery fleeting past the window helps you forget the hustle and bustle of the city and calmly prepares you to embrace art. Upon arriving in Okayama, you transfer to the JR Seto-Ohashi Line to Uno Port. Once you reach Uno Port, the blue waters of the Setouchi Inland Sea finally unfold before your eyes. The moment you board the ferry here, you pass through a special gateway to an 'Art Island' completely separated from daily life. On the ferry, riding the refreshing sea breeze and drifting between islands, the anticipation for the artworks you are about to encounter reaches its peak. Upon arriving at Naoshima's Miyanoura Port, Yayoi Kusama's red pumpkin is the first to greet travelers, signaling the start of the art island journey.

Naoshima: A Harmony of Tadao Ando and Contemporary Art

Naoshima is a world-renowned sanctuary of contemporary art. It is difficult to find a place here untouched by the hand of Tadao Ando, the architect who represents this island. His architecture attempts a deep dialogue with light, shadow, and nature through the minimalism of concrete, elevating the space where a work is placed into an art form itself.

Benesse Art Site: Art Infused in Nature

If you visit Naoshima, the Benesse Art Site Naoshima is a must-see. It is largely divided into the Benesse House Museum, Oval, Park, and Beach, and the architecture designed by Tadao Ando is an artwork in itself. The museum features a unique form combining accommodation and an art museum, where you can encounter various contemporary art pieces both indoors and outdoors. In particular, several outdoor sculptures, including Yayoi Kusama's yellow pumpkin installed along the coast, create unique emotions by harmonizing with the natural landscape. Walking through here, you will directly experience how architecture, nature, and art can coexist harmoniously.

Chichu Art Museum: A Dialogue of Light and Space

One of Naoshima's highlights is the Chichu Art Museum. Designed by Tadao Ando, this museum, as its name suggests, is built underground, preserving the natural landscape while offering a unique sense of space. Light is a key element of this museum. The works of James Turrell and Walter De Maria cleverly utilize natural and artificial light to provide visitors with an immersive experience. Claude Monet's 'Water Lilies' series, in particular, is exhibited using only natural light, offering a mysterious experience where the impression of the work constantly changes with time and weather. The symphony of light filling the concrete walls and space will provide visitors with a deep meditative time.

Lee Ufan Museum: The Aesthetics of Emptiness

The Lee Ufan Museum is where Tadao Ando's architecture meets the philosophy of Korean Dansaekhwa artist Lee Ufan. The exterior and interior spaces are organically connected, using a minimum of materials such as stone, steel, and concrete to maximize the aesthetics of emptiness. Responding to Lee Ufan's 'From Point' and 'From Line' series, visitors are invited to contemplate and meditate before the artworks. One can feel a quiet resonance, as if the artwork and nature are questioning each other and seeking answers.

Art House Project: Art Entering Everyday Life

The Art House Project, carried out in Naoshima's Honmura district, is a project that transforms old island houses into art installations. Here, art permeates spaces where residents actually lived, blurring the lines between art and life. Each house, such as 'Kadoya,' 'Go’o Shrine,' and 'Minamidera,' unfolds its own unique artistic world. In particular, at 'Minamidera,' designed by Tadao Ando, you can have a special time exploring the limits of light, darkness, and perception by experiencing James Turrell's work 'Backside of a Yellow.' This is a good example of how art can seep into our daily lives beyond the museum's glass walls.

Teshima: Artistic Reverberations in Serene Nature

A short 30-minute ferry ride from Naoshima takes you to Teshima, an island brimming with another artistic marvel. Teshima boasts a quieter, more pastoral atmosphere, even closer to nature than Naoshima.

Teshima Art Museum: Perfect Unison with Nature

Teshima's most iconic attraction is the Teshima Art Museum. Born from the collaboration between architect Ryue Nishizawa and artist Rei Naito, this place has a unique structure inspired by a 'water drop.' The white, shell-like building, low to the ground, feels like an organic entity itself. Inside the museum, there is only one artwork: constantly forming and vanishing water droplets. Light, wind, and sounds entering through two large holes in the ceiling intertwine with the movement of the water droplets, creating a different scene every moment. The experience of walking barefoot through this space, feeling the whispers of the wind, the subtle movements of the water droplets, and the sounds of nature, is almost spiritual. Here, you can experience a moment where art, nature, and humanity become perfectly one. I vividly remember sitting there, losing track of time, watching the water droplets move on their own, deeply lost in thought. It was an experience that resonated more deeply than any grand artwork.

Les Archives du Cœur: Listening to the Sound of the Heart

Besides this, Teshima has several other impressive works. Among them, Christian Boltanski's 'Les Archives du Cœur' is a unique installation that collects, stores, and plays the heartbeats of people from around the world. The unfamiliar heartbeats echoing in the dark space prompt deep reflection on life and death, and the meaning of existence. You can also visit other art spots, such as Teshima Yokoo House, to experience the island's diverse charms.

A Special Experience Where Art, Nature, and Life Intertwine

This pilgrimage to Japan's Art Islands, encompassing Naoshima and Teshima, was a special, soul-enriching experience beyond mere travel. Tadao Ando's architecture skillfully manipulated light and shadow through the cold material of concrete, achieving harmony with nature. Furthermore, the contemporary art pieces scattered throughout the islands were not only beautiful in themselves but also enhanced the unique identity of the islands by blending with nature. The artists' imaginations permeated the island's history and people's lives, offering deep inspiration to those who visited.

The Setouchi Art Islands are not merely spaces for appreciating artworks. They are living organisms where art, architecture, nature, and human life are organically connected and constantly in dialogue. Sometimes intense, sometimes serene, the artworks speak to us, allowing us to listen to our inner voices and gain a new perspective on the world and ourselves. Amidst the quiet and peaceful island scenery, experiencing the deep healing and inspiration that art provides, it was a time to reflect on the important values of life that we had momentarily forgotten. Through the special experiences offered by these art islands, I was able to rediscover the beauty of life. I hope you too will create your own special story on the Setouchi Art Islands. Thank you.