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Naoshima is a small island where art and nature perfectly blend, scattered with numerous artworks. One of them is the "Chichu Art Museum," designed by the world-renowned architect Tadao Ando. To preserve the beautiful natural landscape of the Seto Inland Sea, more than half of the museum is built underground on a hillside, utilizing spatial design to allow natural light to illuminate the underground exhibition halls, creating an interaction between the artworks and the light. Each artwork and the overall atmosphere of the space present different appearances at various times and seasons due to changes in light and shadow.
In the sunlit exhibition space, visitors can admire five paintings from Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" series, as well as works by Walter De Maria. Notably, there are also three pieces by the artist James Turrell, who is known for using light and space as his expressive materials, displayed in chronological order.
After viewing the artworks, it is recommended to relax in a café with a panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea or to browse the museum's gift shop, where you can purchase books introducing the Chichu Art Museum's architecture and artists, original merchandise, and various souvenirs. Additionally, the museum features a beautiful garden designed around the plants favored by Claude Monet, which includes approximately 200 species of flowers, plants, and trees, making it another highlight worth recommending.
