[Exhibition Report] Naoshima New Museum "Opening Commemorative Exhibition: From Origin to Future"

[#264, approx. 3,900 characters, approx. 45 photos]
I went to the Naoshima New Museum for the first time and viewed the "Opening Commemorative Exhibition - From Origin to Future." Here are my thoughts and review.

▶︎ Conclusion

Although it is located in a unique place called Naoshima, I thought it was a museum worth visiting! This is mainly because 1) it is rare to have the opportunity to visit a brand-new museum (opened in May 2025), 2) the architecture by Tadao Ando coexists well with nature and the artworks, and 3) the small but elite collection of works all had a great impact. While it felt stable, I thought it would be closer to becoming a museum that represents Naoshima if it had one more element of surprise.

▶︎ Reason for visiting

This summer, my wife took our children on a short trip. In addition to the fact that I had been thinking, "I want to go to Naoshima before I die!", I remembered that the Naoshima New Museum, designed by Tadao Ando, opened in Naoshima in May 2025 so I thought, "Yes, let's go to Naoshima," and showed up.

▼ Tadao Ando Exhibition @ VS.

▶︎ Access

It is about a 10-minute walk from Naoshima's Honmura Port to the Naoshima New Museum. You walk along the coast, and since it is almost a straight line, you won't get lost. I felt reassured because I was able to ask a guide standing on the way for directions.

A point to note is that there are no rental bicycle shops at Honmura Port!

The plan I made in advance was: Takamatsu Airport → Takamatsu Port → Naoshima's Miyanoura Port → Rent a bicycle → Chichu Art Museum → Naoshima New Museum → ... However, at Takamatsu Port, a guy at the ferry terminal said, "The boat to Honmura Port, where the Naoshima New Museum is located, is leaving soon," and I reflexively boarded that ferry 😨

Also, when going to the Naoshima New Museum, advance reservation is recommended. Not only is it safer to book, but reservation tickets are 200 yen cheaper than same-day tickets.

▶︎ What is the Naoshima New Museum?

In short, there are three main points about the Naoshima New Museum.
1) The 10th architectural work by Tadao Ando on Naoshima
2) It is the first time the name "Naoshima" has been included in a museum's name
3) The "New" is composed only of Asian artists, and it also embodies the determination to continue to be new in the future

The Naoshima New Museum is located at the top of an incredible staircase and slope (it's quite tough for those with weak legs or lower back issues). Because it is on a hill, the view from the cafe is spectacular!

The building gave the impression of being truly "Tadao Ando" in style. Concrete suddenly appearing in the midst of nature. At first glance, concrete feels inorganic. However, it actually emphasizes the surrounding nature, creating an atmosphere that feels like coexistence with nature. I also thought the design was a perfect match for any kind of artwork.

▶︎ "Opening Commemorative Exhibition: From Origin to Future" Impressions

It is a rare style where the exhibits are changed little by little on a regular basis. The venue is mainly composed of four exhibition spaces and a cafe. I think a reasonable route is 2nd floor → 1st floor → basement 1st floor (Gallery 3 → 4).

Among the visitors, I felt that there were many people from China. You have to take a ferry from Kagawa or Okayama, there are multiple ports, and the number of ferries is limited, so just getting to the museum is quite difficult. Everyone is amazing 😮

✔️ Gallery 1

While thinking, "I can't believe they managed to install such a huge wall," looking at the work up close felt a bit like horror. It reminded me of Citra Sasmita 😨

▼ Exhibition where I saw Citra Sasmita's work

✔️ Gallery 2

The moment I entered, I got a little excited thinking, "It's Do Ho Suh!" I just saw his work at Incheon International Airport (South Korea) recently.

Actually, you can enter the work (one-way). You aren't allowed to touch the work, but you can't help but want to. While walking through the "houses" of various countries made of thin, translucent, colorful materials along with foreign visitors, I thought, "Maybe cross-cultural exchange is exactly like this work."

✔️ Gallery 3

There is a ladder inside Chim↑Pom's colorful container, and you can stick your head in to see what's inside. It reminded me of Takashi Kuribayashi's "Zanpland" that I saw at the Towada Art Center.

The memories of last year are still fresh, and I can't believe the Fukutake Foundation purchased Takashi Murakami's "Rakuchu Rakugai-zu"! I was so happy to see it again. This room was the only one where exhibition panels, videos, and books about the works were displayed.

At the end of this space, Makoto Aida's "Red Torii" was on display (no photography allowed). Makoto Aida is the artist who first got me interested in contemporary art.

I was lucky to see a new work by Makoto Aida (2025) for the first time in a while! The massive three-dimensional piece was ominous, nonsensical, and somewhat grotesque. It was a work typical of Makoto Aida. Perhaps photography is prohibited because it collages various photos and images without permission.

✔️ Gallery 4

The moment I entered the room, I gasped, "Oh, wow...". This work had an impact worthy of a finale. This intensity cannot be conveyed in photos. I truly felt it was a perfect "installation."

The 99 wolves swarming about are incredibly realistic. As you move through the space, you realize they are crashing into glass. Once you realize that, you chuckle, and I felt like I had been outsmarted.

Cai Guo-Qiang's dynamic work matched this spacious area perfectly. Also, the glass panels were completely bonded to the floor. Is this a permanent exhibition piece?

Actually, this is a political work. It was originally created for display at the German Historical Museum in Berlin.

The height of the glass is the same as the "Berlin Wall." From the sight of 99 wolves (a symbol of the incomplete) (a motif of acting in a pack) repeatedly crashing into the transparent wall, I felt a sense of courage while simultaneously feeling the emptiness of blindly following a system. It was truly a contemporary art piece that conveys the artist's message.

It looks great from any angle, so you'll want to take many photos. The curation from the beginning to the end of the exhibition had a well-structured narrative arc of excitement, so the viewing experience was pleasant.

✔️ Multi-purpose cafe space "&CAFE"

◾️ Needs a little more push

Tadao Ando's architecture is great, and the curation of the works is also good. However, I somehow got the impression that the Naoshima New Museum cannot become the representative of Naoshima yet. The reason for this might be the "insufficient concept".

The message of "contemporary art centered on the Asian region" and "continuing to take on challenges with an eye on the next 100 years" did not come across strongly from the venue. Perhaps the museum name is too simple or the exhibition title is too abstract.

I felt that if there were a little more effort to sharply convey what visitors should take home, the Naoshima New Museum would gain stronger support. Alternatively, wouldn't placing Tadao Ando's Blue Apple increase the buzz?

▶︎ Summary

How was it? The museum, which just opened in May 2025, was full of freshness, and there was a sense of excitement in visiting. Because I was able to get a lot of inspiration from Tadao Ando's stable architecture and the excellent collection of works, I thought it was a must-visit spot when coming to Naoshima. However, I thought it would be even better if there were a little more mechanisms to leave a lasting impression.

▶︎ Today's Museum Meal