Near Japan’s famous architecture island of Naoshima is another serene island of architectural significance, Teshima.
The droplet-shaped architecture of the Teshima Art Museum was designed by Japanese architect Ryue Nishizawa (co-founder of Pritzker Prize winning firm SANAA).
Visiting this museum is a pilgrimage-like experience. After a half hour ferry ride from Naoshima, a tranquil bus ride through the largely deserted island filled with rice paddies leads you to the art museum.
The museum visit is a carefully orchestrated experiential journey, beginning in the perfectly detailed off-form concrete visitor’s centre.
The museum experience begins with a serene walk down a curvaceous path that winds through the seaside forest. Sea breezes and the sound of crashing waves mingle with the earthy aromas of forest floor ferns.
Arriving at the amorphous concrete dome of the main gallery after a winding walk through the forest is a remarkable experience. The building is a single open space with two openings that perfectly frame pristine forest views.
I’m not going to ruin the surprise of the art on display but it is a simple, surreal and meditative experience that’s like nothing else on earth.
After getting your mind blown at the gallery, you can visit the second dome which has a shop and cafe.
This place is remote but really worth the trip, it’s really an experience like no other.
Images by Jonathan Choe
