PAN Okinawa (tentative name) is set to open in autumn 2027 in Motobu Town, Okinawa.
With the concept of “Viewing Asia from Okinawa,” the complex will encompass an art center, café, and landscaped areas within approximately 27,800 square meters (about 8,410 tsubo) of space. The planning, curation, and management of the facility will be handled by PAN Co., Ltd., supported by Ohta Fine Arts, which operates contemporary art galleries both domestically and internationally.
The facility will serve as a cultural hub within a new development project in the Motobu area of Okinawa, led by Obayashi Corporation. The overall plan will respect the local terrain and nature, aiming to create economic benefits while contributing to the promotion of culture in Okinawa and the wider Asian region as a wellness and tourism resource.
At the heart of the facility will be an art center, with a total floor area of approximately 3,800 square meters. This large exhibition space is designed to showcase contemporary art, focusing on the Asia region, including Okinawan art and crafts. The exhibitions will emphasize the experience of viewing artworks up close and encountering them meaningfully. The design includes eight distinct exhibition rooms created by KIAS Ishida Architects Studio, featuring dedicated spaces for appreciating works related to local Okinawan artists and crafts. Additionally, the art center will offer panoramic views of the East China Sea, allowing visitors to explore cultural and artistic expressions of contemporary art and crafts emerging from the “Asian Belt,” which extends from East Asia to Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
*The works featured in the image, from left to right: Yayoi Kusama’s Place of Life (2013) ©YAYOI KUSAMA. Courtesy Ota Fine Arts; Akira the Hustler’s Tools of Hope: Grab Your Anger and Tools of Hope: Grab Your Hope (2018) ©Akira the Hustler. Courtesy Ota Fine Arts; Tsang Tsou-choi’s Calligraphy on Scooter (2002) ©Tsang Tsou-choi / King of Kowloon; Ay Tjoe Christine’s In Quiescent 01 (2019) ©Ay Tjoe Christine. Courtesy Ota Fine Arts; Yayoi Kusama’s PUMPKIN (DAFO) (2021) ©YAYOI KUSAMA. Courtesy Ota Fine Arts; Chris Huen Sin-Kan’s MuiMui and Tess (2021) ©Chris Huen Sin-Kan. Courtesy Ota Fine Arts.
In addition, outdoor artworks created by the design firm DOMINO ARCHITECTS and the ecosystem-building unit veig will be displayed, and a landscape that respects the local topography, vegetation, and ecosystem will be created. Furthermore, a café offering vegan dishes focused on Okinawan vegetables is also planned, with architectural design by the architectural group Kenchiku Ishi and interior supervision by the design firm Luft.
