On Sunday, August 2, Mori Art Museum Membership Program, MAMC, organized a special event for its members - a tour of "Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2015" guided by the museum director Nanjo Fumio.
Below is the photographic report of the event.
"Echigo-Tsumari Art Trienniale" is one of the largest art festivals in the world held every three years since 2000. This edition of the Triennale marks the sixth anniversary of the project.
The special bus tour around Triennale was organized for MAMC by "Echigo-kotsu Golden tour." In addition to already existing artworks, the tour covered new installations created for the 2015 edition of the festival.
The first stop of the tour was Soil Museum project, where a former elementary school turned into a museum, showcasing a variety of soils of the region.
The tour guide from "Echigo-kotsu Golden Tour," Ms. Kurasawa, provided the group with useful information about the artworks as well as the history and traditions of the Echigo-Tsumari region.
MAMC member had lunch at the Ubusuna House, an 80-year-old minka (traditional Japanese House) which was renovated into a pottery museum.
The plate was also an artwork by Ando Masanobu. All-you-can-eat fresh, local tomatoes and cucumbers.
MAMC member photo with Nanjo Fumio taken at the House of Light by James Turrell. The House of Light also serves as an accommodation, but due to high demand it requires booking way in advance.
Members are not passing out from the heat, but enjoying the installation, in fact.
James Turrell's House of Light boasts a sliding roof allowing visitors to enjoy various phases of light at different times of the day. Everyone was enjoying the moment and appreciating the magical transformation of the room.
Mr. Toyama Masamichi, honorary member of MAMC and chairman at Smiles Co., welcomed the group into the "Asia Photography and Image Center." Mr. Toyama explained about his company's artworks including Cupid Arrow Rice with Rice of Niigata.
One of the MAMC members literally had her heat "arrowed" after experiencing the artwork♡
Rice fields of "Hoshitoge" from the bus window.
The artwork Shedding House also serves as an accommodation. Its walls, pillars and floors are covered with carvings.
Croquette House is covered in metal coating. It even uses a potato as a doorknob.
The new artwork by Lee Bul, Doctor's house utilizes a former hospital. The work also house artworks of four other young artists that support Lee Bul.
Another new artwork is Les spectres de la maison Tsunné by Annette Messager. Stuffed objects in the shapes of scissors, nails and knives call to mind the lives of women who usually spent long hours in the house.
New work by Ohmaki Shinji, Where the Spiritual Shadow Descends is also featured, whose Liminal Air Space-Time was also included in "Simple Forms: Contemplating Beauty," the recent exhibition at the Mori Art Museum.
Artworks in Matsudai / Nohbutai area represent and use local resources.
The last art venue of the tour was "Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art / KINARE" where MAMC members saw an exhibition of new works by Cai Guo-Qiang Penglai / Horai.
Despite a very hot weather and a busy schedule of the tour MAMC members really enjoyed it.
The next members event, MAMC NIGHT of "Dinh Q. Lê: Memory for Tomorrow," will take place on Tuesday, September 15. MAMC member will enjoy a Gallery Tour of the exhibition led by its curator Araki Natsumi (Curator, Mori Art Museum) and a talk event by the artist himself.
Text: Imamura Akiko (Marketing Group, Mori Art Museum)
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