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anais
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Beauty & fashion writer and consultant. Studied in Paris, worked in New York, now doing both in Tokyo. So many things to do, so many places to see, so much to learn, so little time. www.anaislombard.com
Art Archives
The other weekend I went to Naoshima, an island in the Seto Inland Sea
of Japan. Naoshima is home to the Benesse House Museum and the Chichu
Art Museum, both designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando (Morimoto in
New York, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas, and about a
billion things in Japan).
You can sleep in the Benesse House museum itself (yes they have rooms, you don't sleep on a rest bench) and have breakfast across Andy Warhol Flower Prints and a view of the sea. It doesn't really get better then that in terms of fancy tea sipping and croissant munching (oui, they have croissants).
The Chichu Art Museum features only 3 artists (4 if you count the museum itself) and is completely underground. Inside you'll find 4 paintings by Monet (the water-lily, the water-lilies and more water-lilies), Walter De Maria, and an amazing work of light by James Turrell - you literally walk towards the light, it was by far my favorite thing.
Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside either museum. But I guess that's sort of ok since there's plenty to play with outside. Sculptures by Nikki de Saint Phalle, Yayoi Kusama (you got to love that pumpkin) and a bunch of others that my uncultivated self didn't know (George Rickey, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Shinro Ohtake...).
I also have to give a special props to one of their restaurants, The Terrace. The food was simply delicious, although the lighting at night was a little obnoxious, so knowing how to say "please turn down the light" in Japanese may come in handy.
Yayoi Kasuma's pumpkin. I just wanted to take it home (got a mini one instead, way less expensive).
Walter de Maria "See /Unseen Known/Unknown.
Unfortunately, the jacuzzi was closed so no splish splash.
The Oval, where the coolest hotel rooms are.
More of the Pumpkin, just because.
Japanese girls playing with the Pumpkin at night (yes, I spent the entire day taking pictures of it, what can I say...). I was behind them for a good 20 minutes before they noticed that I was there. When they finally saw me they started screaming, they totally thought I was a psychopath.
You can sleep in the Benesse House museum itself (yes they have rooms, you don't sleep on a rest bench) and have breakfast across Andy Warhol Flower Prints and a view of the sea. It doesn't really get better then that in terms of fancy tea sipping and croissant munching (oui, they have croissants).
The Chichu Art Museum features only 3 artists (4 if you count the museum itself) and is completely underground. Inside you'll find 4 paintings by Monet (the water-lily, the water-lilies and more water-lilies), Walter De Maria, and an amazing work of light by James Turrell - you literally walk towards the light, it was by far my favorite thing.
Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside either museum. But I guess that's sort of ok since there's plenty to play with outside. Sculptures by Nikki de Saint Phalle, Yayoi Kusama (you got to love that pumpkin) and a bunch of others that my uncultivated self didn't know (George Rickey, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Shinro Ohtake...).
I also have to give a special props to one of their restaurants, The Terrace. The food was simply delicious, although the lighting at night was a little obnoxious, so knowing how to say "please turn down the light" in Japanese may come in handy.
Yayoi Kasuma's pumpkin. I just wanted to take it home (got a mini one instead, way less expensive).
Walter de Maria "See /Unseen Known/Unknown.
Unfortunately, the jacuzzi was closed so no splish splash.
The Oval, where the coolest hotel rooms are.
Reading the paper with Nikki de Saint Phalle ("Le Banc")
More of the Pumpkin, just because.
Japanese girls playing with the Pumpkin at night (yes, I spent the entire day taking pictures of it, what can I say...). I was behind them for a good 20 minutes before they noticed that I was there. When they finally saw me they started screaming, they totally thought I was a psychopath.
Then we headed to Nyanpan the Hanpanda's funeral (seriously). But don't be sad guys, she had a long beautiful life (she was 84 years old). It was a lovely farewell, all her family and friends were there to say goodbye one last time. Sayonara Nypan!
Nyanpan the Hanpanda
The family.
Friends and family.
So much emotion.
Au revoir Nyanpan.
Indian artist N.S. Harsha, winner of this year Arte Mundis prize, was in Tokyo yesterday to present his new show "Leftovers" at Maison Hermes in Ginza (sorry about the "e" in Hermes not having an accent, I'm still trying to figure out how to include it without getting this é è). The exhibit is largely inspired from the fake food displayed in most of Tokyo's restaurants, which Harsha noticed in a previous trip to Japan.
It took about 3 months to the Japanese workshops to create all the food.
The result is pretty realistic (we had to poke it to make sure it wasn't real). Check it out!
FYI, (for the fans), he also created a Carre Hermes for this Spring Summer collection with his signature miniature figures on it. Although I'm not sure if they are selling it in Tokyo. I guess it would make sense but you never know. Unfortunately, it wasn't in the gift bag...
It took about 3 months to the Japanese workshops to create all the food.
The result is pretty realistic (we had to poke it to make sure it wasn't real). Check it out!
FYI, (for the fans), he also created a Carre Hermes for this Spring Summer collection with his signature miniature figures on it. Although I'm not sure if they are selling it in Tokyo. I guess it would make sense but you never know. Unfortunately, it wasn't in the gift bag...
Copyright © 2008 LipstickTracez and anais
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