The artwork on Megijima is mostly in Community Area, Megicho, that is around the port.  Half a day is required to enjoy most of the art in the community area but a full day is recommended if you really want to relax. There is a single artwork at the top of Megijima at the Ogre Caves in addition to the major works in the community.

Megicho (Community) Area

Sea Gulls Parking Lot by Takahito Kimura is a very playful artwork that requires time and a partner to enjoy it.  The sea gulls are just hanging out at the port on top of the breakwater barriers.  They are designed like wind vanes so they continually move in the wind.  I really love the image of the seagulls and love taking photos with it and you can be sure that I will always be there with them whenever I am in Megijima.

• Sea Gulls Parking Lot (HinoMaple)

20th Century Recall by Hagetaka Funjo is a very interesting work.  It is setup in a location that everyone will be able to see at all times.  It is simple a black piano that has been moulded slightly into the shape of a boat as well as having a mast added to it.  The sails are beautiful and they flap quietly in the wind.  Sometimes there are wind chimes on them that make the artwork come alive.  I really loved this piece and always spend the last moments on Megijima around this piano.

• 20th Century Recall (HinoMaple)

In 2013, I really didn’t care for MEGI HOUSE, but in 2016 I thought it was better.  MEGI HOUSE is the centrepiece of Aichi Prefectural University Arts and Music Setouchi Art Project Team which comprises of students, faculty, and alumni.  The actual house is not very interesting but I think it would look good at night, especially with the art by Mitsunori Kurashige.  Unfortunately the last ferry leaving Megijima is before sunset so unless you camp overnight on the island, it is unlikely that you will ever see it at night.  It is specifically designed for music events and since I visited when there wasn’t an event, it wasn’t as interesting.  It is still worth a visit if you have never been before.

• Megi House (HinoMaple)

MECON by Shinro Ohtake is a very polarizing artwork, and I do believe David Billa felt underwhelmed in the spring of 2013 by this one.  I loved the colours of MECON and thought it was a really psychedelic work.  There was a lot that I didn’t like as well but when I ignored the things I didn’t like, I did like the artwork overall, even if it stood out like a sore thumb.  There are a lot of things to see in MECON and in 2013 it was only in the courtyard.  For 2016, they added the entrance to the school as well as a small room adjacent to the entrance.  I imagine that Mr. Ohtake will be adding even more in the future and look forward to seeing it grow.

• Mecon (HinoMaple)

ISLAND THEATRE MEGI by Yoichiro Yoda is an artwork that I had been anticipating and it didn’t let me down.  It is basically an old storehouse that has been converted into an old style theatre.  The outside has signage that is similar to an old New York theatre, as well as a small box office.  It is an experience that you have to do in person as no words can really tell you what it feels like to be there.  The theatre is a bit small, but you can watch all 3 movies for free if you have the time.  Admission is 300 yen without the Setouchi Triennale passport and well worth it if you ask me.

• ISLAND THEATRE MEGI (HinoMaple)

Leandro Erlich re-established his “The Presence of Absence” on Megijima.  3 years ago it was a nice place with the restaurant/cafe IARA.  There are 2 artworks to see and I unfortunately missed one of them in 2013.  The first one you notice is a stone garden in the middle of the waiting area.  The stone garden itself is an artwork and I won’t say anything as it will spoil the work.  The “new for me” artwork was a secondary tatami room where you don’t see yourself at first.  It is a wonderful room and it is amazing to see and experience.

• The Presence of Absence (HinoMaple)

Terrace Winds by Yasuyoshi Sugiura is a very architecturally minded artwork.  I skipped it in 2016 as I believe there are no changes since 2013 but I did enjoy it in 2013.  The views from the artwork are wonderful as you can see all of Megijcho as well as Takamatsu.  I believe that there must be more vegetation in the summer and autumn months compared to spring as when I visited in 2013 it was a little bare.  I don’t regret skipping the artwork but as with anything, I feel like I should have visited to see how the artwork has evolved in nature.

• Terrace Winds (HinoMaple)

Ogre Cave Area

The Oninoko Tile Project is a returning project by Oninoko Production.  It is a work done with various high schools where the students helped to create roof tiles with ogre faces on them.  The artwork is spread throughout the Ogre caves at the top of Megijima and it is magnificent.  I loved the idea that there are tiles all over as well as the ability to walk among them in certain locations.  I didn’t have enough time to enjoy it completely but I hope to go back again in the future someday.

• Oninoko Tile Project (HinoMaple)

New for 2019

• mg04 – BONSAI deepening roots by Masashi Hirao × SETOUCHI COGEIZ
• mg05 – Little Shops on the Island “Café de la Plage” by Vronique Joumard
• mg06 – Untitled by Aiko Miyanaga
• mg07 – Little Shops on the Island “Wedding Shop” by Leong Ka Tai and the Red Thread
• mg08 – Little Shops on the Island “Ping-Pong Sea” by Rintaro Hara+Yu Hara
• mg09 – Little Shops on the Island “Laundry” by Leandro Erlich
• mg10 – Little Shops on the Island “How beautiful the world could be” by Mai Yamashita + Naoto Kobayashi
• mg11 – Untitled by Eros Nakazato
• mg12 – Untitled by Jin Hasegawa
• mg16 – Untitled by EAT&ART TARO
• mg18 – Untitled by KOURYOU

Information

• Megijima Art Guide (Official Setouchi Triennale Site – English)
• Megijima Art Guide (Official Setouchi Triennale Site – Japanese)
• Megijima Guide (Setouchi Triennale) (HinoMaple)
• Megijima (HinoMaple – From 2013)
• Setouchi Triennale 2016 on Megijima (Setouchi Explorer)
• Megijima’s Oni Cave During the Setouchi Triennale 2016 (Setouchi Explorer)
• Seppuku Pistols in Megijima (Setouchi Explorer)
• MECON on Megijima (Setouchi Explorer)

The above is my own personal review of the art I have seen on Megijima.  If you want to be surprised by the art, I recommend that you do not read more than what is written here.  Longer descriptions will be published over time and will be linked at a later time.  Please keep an eye on my social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) 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.