About the artwork

The Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel, one of the most iconic landmarks of Echigo-Tsumari, was renovated as the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale artwork “Tunnel of Light.” A new entrance facility was also constructed. The 750-meter-long tunnel was conceptualized as a submarine cut off from the outside world, with the viewing platforms along the way serving as periscopes to gaze outward, and the artwork unfolding at the panoramic station at the tunnel’s end.By utilizing the “Five Elements” of nature (trees, earth, metal, fire, and water), the project created an architectural space with an artistic atmosphere, transforming this historic tunnel. It aims to encourage a renewed reflection on the relationship between humans and nature, reconnecting both local residents and visitors with the overwhelming beauty of the land.

[Periscope] (Wood)
Inside the entrance facility, a reception area and café have been created on the first floor, and a foot bath on the second floor. As you soak your feet and look up, natural scenery streams in through the circular periscope. Is the periscope a window, a hole, or a mirror? What is it asking of us?

[Manifestation of Color] (Earth)
Light of different colors is projected at each observation deck along the tunnel. By capturing the vitality of the space as a “manifestation of color” and combining it with mysterious music, a subtle yet dynamic environment is created, sparking curiosity about the unknown in those walking through the tunnel.

[Invisible Bubbles] (Metal)
At the second observation deck, capsule-like structures—as if descended from another world—gently project the tunnel’s silhouette and reflect the surrounding landscape. The wall facing the “Valley of Toilets” is transparent. Since the exterior windows are covered with a metallic film, they are visible only from the inside, playing with the concepts of public and private.It is a quiet refuge, a solitary place—a space that is both public and intimate. It is an ideal corner for deep contemplation, where one can ponder how people react when they believe no one is watching them.

[Flow] Newly established in 2021
The restroom “Invisible Bubble,” originally installed at the Second Observation Deck during the 2018 Echigo-Tsumari Art Filed.Enveloping that toilet, the tunnel’s walls and floor were covered with a black-and-white striped pattern, making it appear as though the turbulent flow of the Kiyotsu River outside were pouring directly into the observation deck. This integrates the space with Kiyotsukyo to create dynamic movement. Furthermore, as the mirror-finished toilet reflects the diagonally extending stripes, it blends even more deeply into the space, causing its form to fade from view.

[Drops] (Tue)
“Drops of dew” are scattered across the curved walls of the third observation deck. “Drops” are a series of reflective openings, like uncertain windows. While reflecting the natural environment and projecting reality, bubbles that appear surreal, like water molecules, fall from the ceiling and walls into the air, freezing in time.Peering into a convex mirror illuminated by fiery red backlighting, one can experience another connection with nature—one that is both mysterious and warm.

[Light Cave] (Wed)
At the end of the path, a fantastical view awaits: a “water mirror” that reflects the landscape of Kiyotsukyo Gorge in reverse.Semi-mirrored stainless steel traces the tunnel, drawing the striking rock formations, vivid greenery, and turquoise water gushing from the earth’s depths into this enclosed space. The image of the valley reflected within the cave is also projected onto the water’s surface, creating an infinite illusion of nature.