Naoshima New Museum of Art to Open on May 31, Tickets on Sale Starting April

The Naoshima New Museum of Art in Kagawa Prefecture will officially open its doors on May 31.

Nestled on a hill within the local village, the museum is part of the renowned Benesse Art Site Naoshima, a project that has been driven for over 30 years by Benesse Holdings and the Fukutake Foundation. Designed by acclaimed architect Tadao Ando, the museum marks the 10th addition to the site’s collection of art facilities, following iconic venues like the Chichu Art Museum and the ANDO MUSEUM.

Situated on Naoshima—the very heart of the Benesse Art Site—this new museum reaffirms the vision of art’s ability to invigorate communities, with an emphasis on creating meaningful connections between the island’s residents and the global art world. In addition to its diverse exhibitions, which will include contemporary Asian art, the museum seeks to strengthen the notion of “art, architecture, nature, and community coexisting,” delivering a powerful message on modern society through multiple perspectives.

In line with the announcement of the museum’s opening date, online tickets for the period from May to June will be available for purchase starting at 10:00 AM on April 11 (Friday) via the official Benesse Art Site Naoshima website.

The museum’s opening exhibition, tentatively titled Naoshima New Museum Opening Year Exhibition, will feature works by 12 artists from across Asia, including Japan, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and the Philippines. These artists include Makoto Aida, Marta Atehortúa, Cai Guo-Qiang, Chim↑Pom from Smappa!Group, Hélio Oiticica, Indieguerilla, Takashi Murakami, N. S. Harsha, Sanita Pradithasnee, Motohiko Odani + Jeffrey Lim, Do Ho Suh, and Panapan Yodmani. The exhibition will showcase site-specific new works alongside each artist’s representative pieces.