New Artists for the Setouchi Triennale 2025
Hello from this sunny but (literally) freezing afternoon by the Seto Inland Sea.
First of all, some technicalities. I'm having trouble sending emails at the moment. You may have come to this page via a link, but if you're a subscriber, know that my web host is working hard to fix the problem. In the meantime, and if you use an RSS reader, know that this site also has an RSS feed, and you can receive new posts that way. They'll also appear in the feed that's on this page in Setouchi Explorer.
Okay, now for the fun part.
The Setouchi Triennale Executive Committee has released the complete list of artists who will take part in the Setouchi Triennale 2025. Some changes may occur between now and the beginning of the festival, but they should be minor.
Below is the list of new artists (or returning artists with new works) who will be on the islands and ports participating in the Setouchi Triennale for the three seasonal sessions, with a few words about the spring session as well.
The list of artists for the summer and autumn session locations will be posted later to keep this post from being too long, as it consists mostly of a list of names (and links to the artists' websites).
I'm going to divide by location.
Naoshima
As usual, Naoshima doesn't have a lot of new art, but this time there's a big new place, the New Museum!
Designed by Tadao Ando, it still doesn't have a name, so at the moment everyone (including the Benesse Art website) is calling it "Naoshima New Museum of Art".
It is said to be the last museum to be built on Naoshima. I don't know if that's true or not, but that's the plan at the moment.
It will house art by the following artists. I suppose some of the art will be permanent and some will not:
Makoto Aida (Japan), Martha Atienza (Philippines), Cai Guo-Qiang (China/US), Chim↑Pom from Smappa!Group (Japan), Heri Dono (Indonesia), indieguerillas (Indonesia), Takashi Murakami (Japan), N. S. Harsha (India), Sanitas Pradittasnee (Thailand), Do Ho Suh (South Korea/UK) Pannaphan Yodmanee (Thailand)
Please note that the opening will be on May 31, 2025. This is after the end of the spring session of the Setouchi Triennale 2025. So if you don't want to miss it, come during the summer or autumn session.
Naoshima also has a new "art house" that has several works of art by Haegue Yang and Apichatpong Weerasethakul, collectively called Ring of Fire - Solar Yang & Lunar Weerasethakul. It opened in 2024, but for some reason, I have yet to see it.
Teshima
Only three new artworks on Teshima this year.
One by Jenna Lee (Australia) who will make her debut at the Triennale. And the return of two veterans: Lin Shuenlong (Taiwan) and Chiharu Shiota (Japan / Germany)
Megijima
Some art will be updated, including Yoichiro Yoda's Island Theatre Megi, and Nicolas Darrot's Navigation Room. There will be new shops among the "island shops."
Among the new artists: Tsun, The Cabin Company, Ayumi Shibata, Iku Harada, Sarah Hudson (New Zealand), Jacob Dahlgren (Sweden), Christiaan Bastiaans (Netherlands)
Ogijima
Takeshi Kawashima will have a new artwork in his gallery. He recently celebrated his 95th birthday by the way.
The Group 1965 is back! This is their third time on Ogijima, and I always look forward to seeing their new projects, especially since they really became honorary members of the Ogijima community the previous two times (the fact that they used the old school in 2013 had a indirect influence on the reopening of the school).
The newcomers will be Erina Matsui, and Émilie Faïf (France).
Shodoshima
Shodoshima always has a lot of art. Here is a list of some new artists (some for the first time, some are returning): Sopheap Pich (Cambodia/USA), Nobuho Nagasawa (Japan/USA), Ryo Toyofuku, Wang Wen-chich (Taiwan) will of course build a new bamboo house in Nakayama (they may have started), Toshimitsu Ito will also have some new installation(s?) - the last time I was on Shodoshima there was some major excavating at a site where he has some art. Julio Goya (Argentina) also will have new art. Once again, the last time I was there, he was turning a building into a gallery, right next to where he's been living for a few years now.
Eriko Yano and Ryusuke Kido are two new artists. They're listed as newcomers to the Triennale, but it seems to be a mistake. Eriko Yano was at the 2013 Triennale.
Kenji Yanobe and Daisuke Omi are returning with some new art. Finally, Fukutake House will have many new exhibits, I'm not going to list them here, but there are at least five new artworks in the gallery.
Oshima
Oshima will have new art as well as updated works by Seizo Tashima, "Art of the Hospital project," Fuyuki Yamakawa and Tomoko Konoike. They are the artists who have already done most of the art that can be found on Oshima, and I believe they regularly visit the island (I saw Fuyuki Yamakawa at the port a few months ago).
This year, they will be joined by Nikita Kadan (Ukraine) and Tetsuya Umeda.
Inujima
No new art on Inujima!
One event is planned, though. I realize that I didn't include the various event. Maybe I should have?
Takamatsu
There will be special exhibits at the Kagawa Museum and the Takamatsu Art Museum.
There will be two things called the Vietnam Project and the Takamatsu Port Project, I'm not sure what they will be about yet.
The Kagawa Arena (designed by SANAA) is opening the last week of February and will be part of the Triennale (you can't miss it). I assume several events and exhibits will take place there.
Takashi Homma is doing something with the UNHCR. I assume it's a photo exhibit.
Eisaku Ando, Tomio Okayama, Tomoaki Shibata, Tadanobu Tsuchiya, Yushi Nishijima, Masahiro Maehara, Kiyoka Mori will have art in Yashima.
Uno Port
Teppei Kaneuji will have more art in Uno.
New art will be from SILT, Pu Jiyon (South Korea) and Muff Mad Muff (China)
(note that I'm not too sure of the names of the last two, I only have them in Katakana and I can't really find anything online about them, so the names may be wrong, sorry)
Great Seto Bridge Area
Spring only
It used to be "Shamijima," but those past two triennales, art could also be found on Seijima and Yoshima. This year too.
Actually, there doesn't seem to be new art on Shamijima at all (which is a bit sad, but don't miss Yoshitaka Nanjo's installation if you haven't seen it). All the new art will be on Seijima. 17 artists will present their art on various location on the island. More details when I have them.
Alright that's all for today. I hope this has you as excited as I am.
Stay tuned for more very soon.
All the best,
David