Oshima is a beautiful island with limited artwork. There are 3 tours to the island each day during the Triennale. These are not optional but they are a wealth of information on Hansen’s disease and how people in Japan were treated. The art is limited but it is worth visiting this island.
114 – Forest Path/Room of a forest path
Forest Path/Room of a forest path is a small garden created by Seizo Tashima. In the summer, it was not really interesting. It is a small garden with dirt paths and a few plants. I felt it was not ready to be seen or the plants that were there are not designed for the summer heat. Either way, I pretty much skipped it and would have missed it unless the guide told us about it.
- Forest Path/Room of a forest path (HinoMaple)
“Altar” on Oshima
115 – Blue Sky Aquarium
Blue Sky Aquarium by Seizo Tashima was my favourite artwork on Oshima for obvious reasons. You have to go through the entire exhibit slowly and try to enjoy it. The entire exhibit is interactive so you really have to try everything. There are a lot of colours inside of the artwork from blue, to pink, to dark blacks. It was designed as a “poem” and while I didn’t understand it when I visited it, upon reflection I can completely see the meaning and wish I could go back and take a second look.
- Blue Sky Aquarium (HinoMaple)
Blue Sky Aquarium by Seizo Tashima
116 – {Tsunagari no Ie} Library
{Tsunagari no Ie} Library has been created by Art for the Hospital Project, Yasashii Bijutsu. It is basically 3 rooms with a collection of books and trinkets from the past residents of the island. One room is basically a library and you are free to read the books. Another room has various items that the residents have used in their day to day lives. It is a very interesting museum style piece that needs some background to understand completely.
- Tsunagari no Ie – Library (HinoMaple)
{Tsunagari no Ie}Library by Art for the Hospital Project, Yasashii Bijitsu
117 – {Tsunagari no Ie} GALLERY 15 “Sea Echo”
{Tsunagari no Ie} GALLERY 15 “Sea Echo” was also created by Art for the Hospital Project, Yasashii Bijutsu. The project curated a lot of the items in the barrack with a boat in the middle of the barrack. The boat is just floating inside one of the rooms and you can walk under it. It didn’t really match with the rest of the barrack as the rest contained photos taken by the late Takashi Tosu, a former resident of Oshima. The photos are very telling of life on the island and how they lived and something that must be taken in slowly.
- Tsunagari no Ie – Gallery 15 “Sea Echo” (HinoMaple)
{Tsunagari no Ie} GALLERY 15 “Sea Echo” by Art for Hospital Project, Yasahii Bijitsu
118 – {Tsunagari no Ie} cafe SHIYORU
{Tsunagari no Ie} cafe SHIYORU is the first and last artwork you see on the island and it is also created by Art for the Hospital Project, Yasashii Bijutsu. While I couldn’t visit this artwork as it was closed, it is basically a little cafe that is open only on weekends and holidays. It is a little cafe that I really wanted to visit and if I return in 3 years, you can be sure that I will be trying to go. It looks really interesting so if you have a chance be sure to try it and let me know what it is like!
- Tsunagari no Ie – Cafe Shiyoru (HinoMaple)
Cafe Shiyoru by Art for Hospital Project, Yasashii Bijitsu
Information
- Oshima Art Guide (Official Setouchi Triennale Site – English)
- Oshima Art Guide (Official Setouchi Triennale Site – Japanese)
- Oshima Guide (2016 Setouchi Triennale) (HinoMaple)
- Oshima, the Forbidden Island (Setouchi Explorer)
- The Gentle Art Exhibit Revisited (Cathy Hirano)
The above is my own personal review of the art on Oshima. If you want to be surprised by the art, I recommend that you do not read more than what is written here. Links will follow the single paragraph describing the basics of the artwork when the posts are ready. Please keep an eye on the social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus) for information when they go live. Photos may also give away part of the art, but in this post, they are minimal. Spoiler alerts in individual posts will be given when it is necessary for you to enjoy the art for the first time. If you will not be going to the Setouchi Triennale, feel free to follow the links and read everything and enjoy it as best as you can. Links to individual art reviews will be coming in the following months as soon as possible.