On Naoshima art installation sites are all around the island.
There is also a treasure hunt.
We get on a yellow polka-dotted bus just down the road from the yellow polka-dotted pumpkin. (Some busses have red polka-dots) All the busses are called Naoshima My Bus.
The bus can take you around the island and the fare is only 100 ¥. (Exact fare needed.) They are regular and very prompt.
We get off close to the Ando Museum. Near the bus stop, tickets are available for purchase for the Art House Project.
Now! The Art House Project is simply amazing. It’s one of the best concepts for art I’ve ever heard about.
It involves restoring old / vacant homes (there are many, many abandoned homes in Japan). Artists either transform these homes into artworks or use the homes as places to showcase their art.
It’s a fantastic idea.
Not only does it bring money to the island but it provides many job opportunities for retired people and also for the younger people who choose to live on Naoshima.
After buying our tickets, we receive this brochure.
On the very left hand side, visitors collect a stamp showing that they’ve visited the site.
There are six sites as you can see, located all around a small part of the island.
In order to see all six, visitors walk from place to place with their maps or phones. (It reminded me of Pokémon Go.)
Because the area is so small, it’s easy to recognize who the Art House Project visitors are. Soon, people begin chatting with each other because at some point or another, a few of us end up at the same place again and again.
The sites are very different and very conceptual.
Because there is a treasure hunt vibe to it all, I won’t give away the secrets.
I’ll share just one – one of my favourites.
This used to be a place where Go players would come to hang out and play Go.
The artist is Yoshihiro Suda. He is known for his wood carvings of hyper-realistic flowers.
The house has two small wings, separated in the middle by the entrance.
On one side, the room is empty, save for tatami mats and a kekkai (bamboo to create a boundary). On the other side, camellia flowers and a single leaf, carved from wood, lay on the tatami mats.
They’re delicate, perfect and so beautiful it hurts a little to look at them.
These photos don’t do them justice, I’m afraid. The detail Suda manages to create from wood is remarkable and should be seen in person.
If I had the chance, I’d do it all over again tomorrow. 🙂
Copyright © 2023
Lisi-Tana.com
All Rights Reserved