Art museum islands

In March, (Spring break), we did another road trip. This time we went down to Okayama, Shikoku and Hiroshima with stop overs in Kyoto and Osaka.


One of the big reasons for going was to see the Inland Sea islands which have many art museums, especially the beautiful white teardrop that many of you may have seen in design magazines. Teshima Art Museum, on Teshima Island, designed by Ryue Nishizawa.

http://www.arcspace.com/architects/sejima_nishizawa/teshima-art-museum/teshima-art-museum.html

 A wealthy publisher whose father worked on one of these islands, Naoshima, realised that the islands were "dying" as young people left them, and the population aged and dyed off. He wanted to revive them, and started an art museum and hotel, art installations, and an annual art festival spread around many of the islands.


Below are pictures of Benesse House the hotel and museum that he first established on Naoshima. It is designed by Tadao Ando, and as with all the architecture on the island, buildings are built underground as much as possible to preserve the environment. We stayed one night here. Gorgeous!

View from Benesse House hotel

Sculpture that plays sound in the wind

Corridor joining buildings with glass artwork

Resident eccentrics

Inside Benesse House

Playful sculpture garden in front of Benesse House

Front reception of Benesse House

Nicely framed Mr Ando!

Internal garden

Looking out from our balcony over the underground building

 The view from the restaurant wasn't bad!