Sezon Museum of Modern Art
Nagano Prefecture · Japan
"Museums are for the human society what stick insects are for the ecosystem." This is how Sezon Museum of Modern Art chose to introduce itself, to point out how art contributes to develop a peaceful society, just like stick insects help the trees grow new leaves by eating the old ones.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the Sezon Museum of Modern Art, an institution that stands as a testament to the vision of Yoshiaki Tsutsumi and the Seibu Group, located in the tranquil highlands of Karuizawa. As we begin our exploration, I want you…
Listen in the app2The Forest Approach: Sculptures in the Wild
The path from the entrance gate into the heart of the museum grounds is a carefully orchestrated transition. As you walk deeper into the forest, the sounds of the road fade, replaced by the rustle of leaves and the occasional…
Listen in the app3The Sky Hall: Inoue Buichi’s Monumental Vision
Emerging from the denser woods, we find ourselves in an open, grassy expanse dominated by the monumental 'Sky Hall' by the artist Inoue Buichi. This work, dating from the mid-1990s, is a masterpiece of environmental sculpture. …
Listen in the app4The Helix 89: Hita Aijiro’s Geometric Play
Continuing our journey, we encounter 'Helix 89' by Hita Aijiro, a work that stands in stark contrast to the heavy, grounded stones we have just seen. This sculpture is a dynamic, spiraling form made of metal, reaching upward like…
Listen in the app5The Stone Circle and the Spirit of Isamu Noguchi
No exploration of modern sculpture in Japan would be complete without acknowledging the profound influence of Isamu Noguchi, and here at Sezon, his spirit is very much present in the arrangement of the 'Stone Circle.' While…
Listen in the app6The Museum Building: Kikutake’s Submerged Masterpiece
We now approach the main museum building itself, designed by Kiyonori Kikutake. In the history of Japanese architecture, Kikutake is famous for his 'Marine City' and other Metabolism projects that envisioned buildings as living,…
Listen in the app7The Cafe and the Garden Path
To conclude our tour of the grounds, we visit the museum's cafe and the surrounding garden path. The cafe is a wonderful example of how the museum extends its aesthetic into every aspect of the visitor experience. …
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our journey through the Sezon Museum of Modern Art, I hope you take with you a renewed appreciation for the intersection of human creativity and the natural world. We have walked through a forest that breathes art,…
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What is Sezon Museum of Modern Art?
Sezon Museum of Modern Art is a place in Nagano Prefecture · Japan with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Nagano Prefecture · Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 36.3695, 138.5814 |
| Last updated |