japan’s art islands
& the setouchi triennale

may 2025
dr nick gordon

*** Preliminary Itinerary ***

Experience the world-class Setouchi Triennale, Japan’s largest contemporary art festival, admiring the revitalised ‘art islands’ of the Seto Inland Sea as well as the beauty and relaxed charm of Shikoku

OVERVIEW

Since its inauguration in 2010 the Setouchi Triennale has been a triumphant catalyst in the revitalisation of the Seto Inland Sea. Spread across 12 islands, almost abandoned in the later twentieth century, the festival has become a major drawcard for eminent international and local artists such as Olafur Eliasson, Yayoi Kusama, Lee Ufan and Chiharu Shiota. The unique location showcases extraordinary artworks in dialogue with the natural beauty of the region.

This new 11-day tour commences in the port city of Takamatsu on Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s four major islands, and includes visits to Ritsurin Garden and the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum, both unique in their embodiment of the Japanese aesthetic. We then enjoy four days island hopping in the Seto Inland Sea, experiencing the artworks and installations that renowned artists have created expressly for the Setouchi Triennale.

After a feast of contemporary art and architecture, we step back in time to Matsuyama where the imposing feudal-era castle dominates the skyline. From here we explore the halls and three-storied pagoda of Ishiteji Temple and the locally crafted Tobe-yaki ceramics, before strolling the alleyways of Ozu’s charming old town. The tour concludes with a survey of Tokyo’s contemporary art galleries, as well as a multi-sensory experience curated by the groundbreaking TeamLab art collective.

The experience is rounded out by the expertise of your tour leader, Dr Nick Gordon, who has successfully designed and led contemporary art-focused tours to the Venice Biennale, Art Basel, Art Basel Hong Kong, Shanghai and Japan’s Naoshima.

Highlights

  • Discover the ‘art islands’ of the Seto Inland Sea, many of them only accessible during the prestigious Setouchi Triennale

  • Experience exceptional displays of artistic creativity and inspiration by leading international and Japanese artists

  • Admire elegant gardens, including the house museum of modernist sculptor Isamu Noguchi and the sculpted pines of the Edo Period Ritsurin garden

  • Relax and uncover the charms of the Inland Sea, from rural Shikoku’s Little Kyoto in Edo-era Ozu to the feudal architecture of Matsuyama

  • Enjoy Tokyo’s cutting-edge collections of modern and contemporary art in the vibrant Roppongi district

TOUR LEADER

Dr Nick Gordon is an artist and historian who studied history at the University of Sydney, receiving First Class Honours and the University Medal in 2003, and his PhD in 2008. He has taught medieval and Renaissance European history at the University of Sydney, and the history of political thought at WSU.

Nick has designed and led cultural tours to Europe, East Asia and Australia for more than a decade, including to contemporary art events in Venice, Basel, Shanghai, Naoshima, Melbourne and Hong Kong.

Tour leader image: David Li Photography
Banner image: Kimon Berlin, Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0

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