In terms of museum architecture, the Simose Art Museum in Otake, Hiroshima Prefecture, stands out, reflecting the landscape of its inspiration, the Setouchi Islands, which host their own influential triennial.
Two-thirds of Simose’s gallery space is located outside the main building, split into eight connecting boxes that appear to float on a shallow water basin. The box structures look like a candy-colored art installation, and yet they somehow fit into the seascape. At dusk, their angular shapes light up and glow like giant lanterns for an even more spectacular sight.
A visit to the museum, which opened in March last year, is an immersive and dual cultural experience. There are, as expected, the planned art exhibitions, but Simose also offers a comprehensive overview of the work of Shigeru Ban, the museum’s architect and one of Japan’s most important designers.
