A museum resulting from the collaboration between internationally acclaimed artist Lee Ufan, presently based mainly in Europe, and architect Tadao Ando.
The Ando-designed semi-underground structure houses paintings and sculptures by Lee spanning a period from the 1970s to the present day. Lee's works resonate with Ando's architecture, giving visitors an impression of both stillness and dynamism. Located in a gentle valley surrounded by hills and the ocean, the museum offers a tranquil space where nature, architecture and art come in resonance with each other, inviting to peaceful and quiet contemplation, in a society overflowing with material goods.
Hours ＆ Admission
Lee Ufan was one of the leading figures of the Mono-ha school (School of Things), a contemporary art movement emerging in the late 1960s. Lee's works in the museum include two-dimensional paintings featuring repetitive brushstrokes laid down with the rhythm of quiet breathing and sculptures that organically combine stones and steel plates, in which the artist's interventions are reduced to the bare minimum.
Lee Ufan
Born in 1936, Korea. Graduated from Nihon University, Department of Philosophy, Tokyo in 1961. Professor Emeritus of Tama Art University.
Major exhibitions include Lee Ufan (2001, Kunstmuseum Bonn), Lee Ufan: The Art of Margins (2005, Yokohama Museum of Art), Resonance (2007, Venice Biennale), and Lee Ufan (2008, Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium), Marking In nity (2011, Guggenheim Museum of USA).
Space: Pole Place
Correspondance Place
Space: Encounter Room
Space: Void
Space: Silence Room
Space: Shadow Room
Space: Meditation Room
Located in a gentle valley surrounded by hills and the ocean, the architecture designed by Tadao Ando to conform to the landform and the pole created by Lee in front of the entrance create a tension between the horizontal and the vertical. The floor plan with rectangular and triangular spaces ar ranged across this valley which leads to the sea brings a rhythm to the architecture.
Tadao Ando
Born in Osaka, 1941. Established Tadao Ando Architect & Associates in 1969. Architect and Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo. Recipient of many Japanese and international awards, including the Gold Medal of UIA (International Union of Architects, 2005) and the Pritzker Architecture Prize (1995).
Significant Works: Children's Museum (1989, Hyogo), Church of Light (1989, Osaka), Benesse House Museum (1992, Naoshima), Awaji-Yumebutai (2000, Awaji Island), Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (2002, Texas), Chichu Art Museum (2004, Naoshima).
In Lee Ufan Museum Shop, we sell publications related to the artist, as well as a range of original and specially selected goods.
Like "handkerchief" and "scarf" designed by the artist himself, our line-up will make you feel closer to the works of Lee Ufan.
This is the official catalog of the Lee Ufan Museum. It contains dialogues between Lee Ufan and Tadao Ando, the works collected by the museum, and more.
This three-quarter sleeve women’s T-shirt has a motif based on the work [[[Dialogue]]]. A long-sleeve men’s T-shirt is also available for JPY4,629 (tax included).
Private tours can be booked by visitors who wish to deepen their experience of the art on display in the museum. Members of the Lee Ufan Museum staff guide visitors personally during these tours, offering valuable insight into the art.
Note: Reservations are accepted starting two months before the desired date. Reservations are no longer accepted when maximum capacity is reached.
In order to ensure a smooth admission, groups of 9 or more visitors who intend to visit Lee Ufan Museum are advised to contact us in advance using the Benesse Art Site Naoshima Group Advance Notice Form.
(1)Accessibility
Due to characteristics of facility, some places are not accessible for visitors with disabilities and special needs.
We ask for your understanding.
We will support you as much as possible when you visit us, so please contact and discuss directly with our facilities.
(2)About lending wheelchairs, etc.
・Wheelchairs: We have one wheelchair available on a first-come, first-served basis.
・Writing tools: Available.
・Multi-purpose toilets: Not available.
・You may enter our facilities with a service dog, a seeing eye dog, and/or a hearing assistance dog.
1390 Azakuraura, Naoshima, Kagawa 7613110 Japan
Tel. +81-(0)87-892-3754 (Fukutake Foundation)
Fax. +81-(0)87-840-8285
Inquiry form