Naoshima - the island of art

Naoshima Island, located in Kagawa Prefecture (Japan), has only 3,000 inhabitants but is a popular destination that tourists cannot miss.

The highlight of this island is its outdoor exhibitions and artworks by many famous painters, sculptors, and installation artists from both within and outside Japan.

Visitors can take a train from Takamatsu City to Miyanoura Port, located on the western side of Naoshima Island. The first thing that impresses visitors upon arrival is the giant pumpkin statue at the pier. The pumpkin is the work of the renowned contemporary sculptor and artist Kusama Yayoi and is considered a symbol of Naoshima Island. Images of pumpkins can be seen everywhere, from murals to tourist buses traveling to Honmura district in the eastern part of the island.

In 1998, the Naoshima Island government, the Benesse Education Group, and architect Ando Tadao collaborated to transform Honmura Prefecture into an "art museum in everyday life." Ando Tadao's most famous work in Honmura is the Chichu underground art museum. Chichu resembles a system of bunkers built into a hillside, but with numerous skylights to bring natural light into the exhibition area. Most spectacular is the room designed by American installation artist James Turrell. Depending on the position of the sun shining into the room, visitors will see different visual illusions.

Seven old houses in Honmura have been transformed into unique works of art by Ando Tadao and other artists. For example, the house called Kadoya features a large water tank containing 125 LED countdown clocks, each running at a different speed. The Gokaisho house, once a gathering place for islanders to play Go, has been turned into an art installation depicting the breaking down of spatial and temporal barriers. Visitors wishing to see the seven houses should book early as the waiting list is long.

For visitors wishing to relax after a long day exploring the artworks, we invite you to visit the bathhouse with a very special name: I love yu (I♥湯, meaning "I love you"). I love yu was designed by the renowned artist Ohtake Shinro, famous for the dreamy quality of his work. Stepping into the bathhouse, visitors feel as if they have wandered into a dream.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/naoshima-hon-dao-nghe-thuat-695945.html