Naoshima's art in the open-air 直島の屋外作品
Living with art in the Setouchi Island
Naoshima is the island of art par excellence. This new role in the world of contemporary art is encouraged by the Setouchi Triennale festival taking place in Naoshima and its surroundings. Many sculptures are exhibited there in the open air in a fabulous natural setting by renowned local and international artists, such as Yayoi Kusama, Shinro Otake, Walter de Maria, and Niki de Saint Phalle.
Naoshima, an island of art and artists
The island of Naoshima has awakened to art thanks to the Benesse Foundation, which has completely transformed it into a living museum. Opened in 1992, the Benesse House Museum is an incredible place that combines art, nature, a museum, and a hotel to live a whole night in communion with original works of art created especially for the place, unique in each room. . Even overpriced, what wouldn't one do for the love of art.
The place gives pride of place to contemporary artists, who are called upon to come and create a work on-site, soaking up the very special atmosphere of Naoshima. This is how art quickly went beyond the limits of the museum to overflow outside, in the park, towards the forest, on the beach, on the paths, in the villages. It is therefore normal to come across a work of art at the bend of a path while walking, and it is this kind of discovery that makes your stay here on the island of Naoshima so special.
What works are in Naoshima?
Let's start with the artist playing at home, the Japanese Shinrô Otake, from the neighboring island of Uwajima. He used molds intended to build boat hulls to make his works, with the same materials as the real ones. His works posed near the sea invite the viewer to feel the call of the open sea, like an invitation to travel.
Yayoi Kusama, now an ultra-famous artist and acclaimed throughout the world for her stunning environments, is offering two pumpkin works in Naoshima, the emblematic vegetable of this artist as well as of this island, that's good! A big red pumpkin through which the children have fun at the port of Naoshima, and a magnificent yellow pumpkin placed at the end of a long pontoon in front of which the adults 'selfie' with all their might. Kusama would have had a kind of vision, a red light shooting to the end of space to turn into a pumpkin in the sea of Naoshima.
- To read: The Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo
Also at the port, you will find the Naoshima Pavilion of the Japanese Sôsuke Fujimoto. A huge transparent metal structure in which children can frolic happily and which represents a floating island … on the waves of the Seto Inland Sea.
The American George Rickey has exhibited a kinetic sculpture that moves in the sea wind. Three large shiny metallic squares that reflect light, from the ground, from the sky, from the sea, from yourself!
Another American artist, Walter De Maria, master of Land Art, leaves the spectator free of his interpretation in front of two huge stone balls "Seen/unseen, Known/unknown". A window separates you from them but allows you to be in communion with them and with the nature reflected in them. A mysterious, beautiful, and contemplative work.
A French artist comes to join the party. Nikki de Saint Phalle, from the Nouveaux Réalistes group, shows here three sculptures of amusing and colorful characters and animals, as usual.
Karel Appel, the Dutch artist, raises a gigantic hyper-colored 3D cat, which goes very well with the adjoining works of Niki de Saint Phalle.
Works by Karel Appel "The Cat" & Niki de St Phalle
Jerome Laborde
Finally, back with a Japanese artist, photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto. His "Time Exposed" series features snapshots of skylines taken around the world.
His images are exhibited in the Hotel Benesse, then spill out onto a terrace with tall walls raised by architect Tadao Ando, and then continue out onto the yellow cliffs breaking the beach.
From a long and frail pontoon, you can see these images like incongruous details in the landscape.
Artwork by Hiroshi Sugimoto, photo of a horizon line on the cliff.
Jerome Laborde
For further :
- The Seto Inland Sea
- How to get around during the Setouchi Triennale?
- The Shimanami Kaido Cycle Path
- Teshima Island
- Honjima Island
- Ibukijima Island
- Awashima Island
- Shamijima Island
- Takamijima Island
- Ogijima Island
- Megijima Island
- Takamatsu City
- Uno Harbor
- Kosan-ji Temple
- The Myths of the Seto Inland Sea Islands
- Battles and legends in the Seto Inland Sea
- Pirates and Fighters of the Seto Inland Sea
- Youkai of the Seto Inland Sea
- Naoshima's open-air works of art
Address, timetable & access
Address
Timetable
The island is accessible by ferry from the city of Takamatsu on Shikoku Island, the city of Uno from Honshu Island, from the nearby island of Shodoshima and even from the city of Kobe.
