NAOSHIMA

A ferry transported us to the small island of Naoshima, which has become a hub for contemporary art and architecture.

The Benesse Art Site was established through the collaboration of an industrialist and a mayor, aiming to highlight this small island in the Seto Inland Sea by developing a venue where contemporary art and a beachfront hotel merge, allowing guests to experience staying in a museum. On our Nat Geo trip, this hotel stood out as the best in terms of design and comfort, earning a Chuckie 5-star approval rating.

Pumpkin, a sculpture by Yayoi Kusama made for a 1994 exhibition, is an emblem of the island. It reportedly caused a commotion when a hurricane swept it out to sea in 2021, but it was fortunately rescued and re-installed.

There are several works of art by Hiroshi Sugimoto at the Benesse House Museum.

The museum was designed by acclaimed architect Tadao Ando.

Another museum also designed by Tadao Ando in Naoshima is the Chichu Art Museum. Most of the building is subterranean but will placed skylights allows it to capture natural light and the museum is itself a work of art. The permanent art installations include works of Claude Monet, James Turrell and Walter De Maria.