Inujima Seirensho Art Museum

Inujima Seirensho Art Museum comprises the following four elements.

Heritage of Industrial Modernization

Copper refineries were often constructed on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea in order to prevent pollution and from considerations of convenience in the transportation of raw materials. However, operation of the Inujima refinery, which had been constructed using local funds in 1909, was discontinued after only 10 years due to a massive plunge in the price of copper. Present-day Inujima features many traces of the large-scale refinery preserved in good condition, including the remains of a factory built using karami bricks produced from the slag generated by the refining process, and refinery smokestacks. In 2007, the Inujima refinery site was designated as "Story 30" in the "33 Heritage Constellations of Industrial Modernization" by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, because of its groundbreaking role in Japan's industrial development.

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Artwork

An art work created in five separate spaces, combining the process of architectural design with a motif featuring Yukio Mishima, a novelist who warned of Japan's process of modernization, over the Inujima refinery, a formerly prosperous site that contributed to Japan's modernization, but which now exists only as ruins. This work questions Japan's modern society and its future orientation.

Yukinori Yanagi
Born in 1959 in Fukuoka Prefecture. Associate professor, Faculty of Art, Hiroshima City University (since 2005). After a solo exhibition at Naoshima Contemporary Art Museum in 1992, Mr. Yanagi has established deeper ties with the Inland Sea area and island of Naoshima. In 2008 through the Inujima Seirensho Art Museum*, the artist collaborated with architects to create a permanent installation.

* At that time, this title was Inujima Art Project Seirensho
Works
  • Hero Dry Cell , 2008
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Architecture

The architecture of Inujima Seirensho Art Museum uses geological features, the heritage of industrial modernization, and natural energies to create a facility that changes and grows constantly as part of the natural cycles and the geography.

Hiroshi Sambuichi
Born in 1968. Graduate of the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science. Established Sambuichi Architects, based in Hiroshima, after working with Shinichi Ogawa and Associates. Award-winning projects include Running Green Project (2000 SD Review New Architect Award and 2001 Canada Green Design Grand Prix Award, Canada), Miwa Craft Potters Building, Kiln and Air House (2001 SD Review Asakura Award, 2003 ar+d Award (England), and 2005 Detail Prize (Germany); also received the 19th Yoshioka Award, 2003 for Air House.
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Environmental System

Inujima Seirensho Art Museum creates an environment that is considerate of nature, using a sophisticated water purification system that employs the power of plants. Among other measures, vegetation was planted that is suited to Inujima, based on the results of an environmental survey.

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