[Image: Christo "Surrounded Islands (Project for Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami)" (1981) Drawing © Christo]

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The Hara Museum of Contemporary Art (Shinagawa, Tokyo; opened in 1979, closed in January 2021) and its annex, Hara Museum ARC (Shibukawa, Gunma; opened in 1988), both of which specialize in contemporary art, were combined and opened in April 2021. The collection includes contemporary art from around the world since the 1950s, as well as early modern Japanese paintings, crafts, and Chinese art. The work in the collection is exhibited and shown several times a year.

The architecture is by Arata Isozaki. Gallery A, with its impressive pyramidal roof that echoes the peaks of Mt. Haruna, and Galleries B and C, which are inspired by the stables of the adjacent farm, are neat spaces where contemporary artwork can be displayed. On the other hand, Kankai-an, which was added in 2008 and was inspired by the Shoin style of the former Nikko-in Kyakuden of Mitsui-ji Temple (Sonjo-ji Temple) in Shiga Prefecture, is a tranquil Japanese-style space where the skills of master craftsmen shine throughout the interior, and where visitors can enjoy the diverse expressions of beauty that transcend time and region.

Visitors can also enjoy strolling in the spacious garden while viewing outdoor work by domestic and international artists such as Andy Warhol and Olafur Eliasson.

Traces of a Dream – Selections from the Hara Museum Collection