Visit us to enjoy Echigo-Tsumari Art Field 2020 Summer!

Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art, KINARE is a popular place for family with children to “Splish-Splash Fair” which has been running every summer since 2016.  It has become a popular event and we saw eager families queuing up prior to the gate open for its fourth iteration. Even grown-ups enjoy rowing SUP boat on the pond in the courtyard where “Palmpset: pond of sky” by Leandro Elrich is presented whereas the Water Village by Hara Rintaro and Hara Yu with waterwheel and shower keeps children entertained. Don’t miss out their Snowdome with “that artwork” inside.

Echigo-Tsumari Collaborative Sweets Stall presented by YORIKO opens Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays and sells original frozen icecream. Tomato, sweet potato and sweet corn are added as new flavours in addition to classic jams such as blueberry and kiwi fruit this summer. While I was unsure, I chose tomato and sweet corn and cautiously ate it – and it tasted surprisingly delicious! Try these flavours of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables which are only available here in Echigo-Tsumari.

Matsudai Nohbutai hosts “Satoyama Food Court” with unique backstreet atomosphere. “Kagamichushin”, the food court produced by the artist, Toyofuku Ryo is home for spirits and gods from across Japan who keep “social distancing”. Enjoy special menu including exotic lunch and deserts from Echigo-Matsudai Satoyama Shokudo in the mysterious but safe space.

Museum of Picture Book Art presents special exhibitions featuring Matsumoto Akinori and Matsumoto Michiko. The exhibition of Matsumoto Michiko, “Be free as you like!!”, shows countless number of delicate and detailed objects of Hoppe, her pet cat as a motif. You immerse yourself in the space with lots of cats in the same posture in different colours. Colouring in Hoppe is also great fun although you get exhausted when completed the colouring as the drawing is so detailed. You realise how much energy the artist invests in when she draws a couple of hundreds of those!!

You will hear the gentle sound of bamboo as the wind blows. The artworks by Matsumoto Akinoro created for the exhibition “The Sound of Bamboo Played by the Wind” are installed outside of the school building. Objects in various shapes sway to the breeze as they make simple, refreshing and comfortable sound. Objects with wings in the classroom make subtle sounds as they slowly fly around. The sound of bamboo resonates in the music room and the movements of the objects gives you such a comfort as if you wish to stay there for long time.

As you look up the ceiling in the corridor you will find a collaborative work of the couple. The wall of the corridor is dominated by the cats. Stop for a coffee and sweets or vegetable-curry if you are hungry at Hachi Café after enjoying inside, outside and gym space of the museum.

In addition to these special exhibitions, exploring artworks dotted across the region, in the rice field or in the mountains is a great fun. Join the Stamp Rally as you visit these works. Where do you start your advanture in Satoyama in Echigo-Tsumari this summer?