Oh My Teshima!

The Teshima Art Museum is amazing.  We took one taxi, 4 trains, 2 ferries and a motorized bike to get there but man, it was worth it!  Set on a remote island amongst rice paddies the Teshima Art Museum is quite a sight to see.  The whole experience of arriving by ferry to a little port with limited information we worked out that motorized bike was the way to go so we cycled along the beautiful road along the edge of the island until we approached the museum.  Completed recently in October 2010 by Ryue Nishizawa the white pod structure is reminiscent of a water droplet.  I blogged it back here and was thrilled to actually see it.

We walked along a pristine white path through the trees until we approached the main building.  We took our shoes off and stepped inside.  I have never experienced a space like it before, it has no walls or ceiling, it is one.  The light filters through two large round cut-outs in the teardrop and you kind of drift around the space in a trace.  Then you look down.  What are these puddles of water on the concrete floor?  Wait a minute, they are moving, there are droplets of water everywhere and they are all moving around me.  Closer inspection reveals little tiny white balls on the floor with water oozing out of them, little by little.  Then you hear the sucking of water down a drain underneath us.  I can't explain it.  It was an amazing work of art in subtlety, beauty, engaging the senses.   And then you think, how?  How is this amazing place here on a little remote island in Japan.  You get the picture, it was mind-blowing.

The cafe and gift store (photo with the round cut-out in the ceiling and curved bench) didn't disappoint either, it was a complete vision of the architect.  We sat there for a while, had coffee and bought from the gift store.  Then we walked the path and did it all again, we were the only ones there.  That was a good day.