Sep 4, 2014 - 1 min read

Brief Visit to Naoshima

Too much to see, and not enough time

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

Polka-dot pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama

Morning glory blooming on the path to Go'o Shrine

Stones on the crossbeam of a torii

Go'o Shrine designed by Hiroshi Sugimoto

I love the glass staircase

Once a dentist's house and office, this building has been transformed into a patchwork of sculpture called 'Dreaming Tongue' by artist Shinro Otake

What appears to be a window is actually a mirror

String sculpture on a wooden house

Door curtains blowing in the breeze

The island's decidedly modern and off-beat art is an interesting contrast to the old, traditional homes and shops.

Brace pines growing near the ferry dock

Inside the polka-dot pumpkin

I was looking forward to visiting this famous island of art, but only ended up seeing a small but fascinating part of it. After enjoying the ferry ride out to the island my friends and I wandered around Honmura Village. We admired the glass stairway and mysterious cave of Go'o Shrine and puzzled over the strangeness of Haisha, then we visited Kadoya which is an old Japanese house with a shallow pool inside, full of flickering digital stopwatches that cycle endlessly between 9 and 0. It was very impressive. After an inspection of Yayoi Kusama's polka-dot pumpkin, it was time to leave again. I liked the island's laid-back atmosphere and the contrast between the old village and the decidedly modern art.

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Cathy Cawood

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

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FebiNU

FebiNU 9 years ago

interesting place!!

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Relinda Puspita

Relinda Puspita 9 years ago

Really want to go there!

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Cathy Cawood

Cathy Cawood Photographer 9 years ago

It's a fascinating place, and I only saw a fraction of it. I want to go again.

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