Contemporary art in Naoshima

Naoshima is a transformative art destination in Japan's Seto Inland Sea, defined by the seamless integration of contemporary installations and minimalist architecture. The island features several subterranean structures designed by Pritzker Prize-winner Tadao Ando, including the Chichu Art Museum. Visitors can explore the Art House Project, where abandoned traditional residences in the Honmura district are converted into immersive spaces, and view iconic outdoor sculptures like Yayoi Kusama’s pumpkins situated along the coastline.

Naoshima Contemporary Art — Map

663highland / CC BY 2.5

A

Chichu Art Museum

The Chichu Art Museum is a museum built directly into a southern portion of the island of Naoshima in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

B

Benesse House Museum

Designed by Tadao Ando, this facility integrates a modern art museum with a hotel. The collection includes site-specific works by international artists and overlooks the Seto Inland Sea.

KimonBerlin / CC BY-SA 2.0

C

Pumpkin

An iconic yellow fiberglass sculpture with black polka dots by Yayoi Kusama, situated on an old concrete pier extending into the water.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

D

Minamidera

A timber building designed by Tadao Ando on the site of a former temple. It houses James Turrell’s 'Backside of the Moon,' an immersive installation exploring sensory perception in total darkness.

松岡明芳 / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Gokaisho

Part of the Art House Project, this site occupies a former meeting place for Go players. It features hand-carved wooden camellias by artist Yoshihiro Suda scattered across a tatami room.

KimonBerlin / CC BY-SA 2.0

F

Haisha

A former dentist's home and clinic transformed by artist Shinro Ohtake into a multi-layered sculptural collage using scrap materials, neon signs, and a replica of the Statue of Liberty.

松岡明芳 / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Kadoya

The first completed Art House Project. This 200-year-old house features 'Sea of Time '98,' a pool of water containing 125 digital LED counters set to different speeds by local residents.

松岡明芳 / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Ishibashi

A restored residence of a former salt merchant. It displays 'The Falls,' a series of large-scale paintings of waterfalls by Hiroshi Senju, including works painted directly on the walls of the storehouse.

Jessica Morán / CC BY-SA 4.0

I

Sou Fujimoto "Naoshima Pavilion" 2015

A translucent, polyhedral structure made of white stainless steel mesh. Visitors can enter the geometric installation, which is illuminated from within at night.

J

Lee Ufan Museum

A collaborative project between Tadao Ando and Lee Ufan. The semi-underground concrete structure displays minimalist stone and steel sculptures and paintings from the 1970s to the present.

K

ANDO MUSEUM

A traditional 100-year-old timber house featuring a modern concrete interior. It showcases sketches, models, and photographs documenting Tadao Ando's architectural history on Naoshima.

L

赤かぼちゃYayoi Kusama "Red Pumpkin"

A large, hollow fiberglass sculpture by Yayoi Kusama located at Miyanoura Port. It features circular cutouts that allow visitors to step inside the artwork.

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