IDEAS FOR GOODNiigata’s Kiyotsukyo Gorge is famous for its outstanding natural beauty. Now, the power of art has transformed an old tunnel in Kiyotsukyo Gorge into an attractive site for people to visit – a Tunnel of Light.
The region is famous for its rice and Japanese sake as well as its panoramic views. A hot spring village is close to the tunnel that overlooks the gorge, making it a perfect place for people to enjoy the natural surroundings, get away from their bustling everyday lives, relax and refresh.
Changes in the region
However, the Echigo Tsumari natural beauty region has been suffering from problems related to depopulation and the rapidly growing aging society. Despite its vast area of land, approximately the same size of Tokyo, its population is roughly 60,000. Furthermore, over 1/3 of the population are elderly people of 65-years-old and over.
In order to reveal the existing assets of the region and help ease the problems of the growing aging society and depopulation, an art festival called “Echigo Tsumari Art Field: Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale 2018” took place from July to September in 2018. Kiyotsukyo Gorge was one of the art pieces displayed at the festival. The installation has thus attracted many people with its fascinating design.
The MAD Architects, led by Chinese architect Ma Yansong, led the restoration of the Kiyotsukyo Gorge Tunnel. The art installation Tunnel of Light was set deep inside the 750-meter-long tunnel passageway.
The 5 elements of nature
The installation is divided into 5 elements of nature – Wood, Earth, Metal, Fire and Water. The first room you enter is Wood, where there is a footbath. Visitors can sit and relax in it while enjoying the outside view from a hole in the ceiling.
Next, you walk through the passage of Earth, amid a mysterious atmosphere created by colorful illuminations of red, green, orange and blue. Enigmatic music plays in the background, heightening the ambiance.
A dome-shaped toilet in the Metal area has a unique, fascinating twist. People inside the toilet are invisible from the outside, but people outside are visible from the inside. Meanwhile, in the Fire space, numerous mirrors in the shape of raindrops are placed on the walls and ceiling watching over people as they pass by.
Lastly, the scene created in the Water area is breathtakingly beautiful. The vast nature stretches out from the open, semicircular tunnel. The visitor then becomes a part of the scenery: both are reflected in the water on the ground. As such, the viewers become a part of the art, taking a role in recreating the beautiful scenery. It is ultimately an astounding and unforgettable experience.
The artists of MAD Architects explain, “The power of art and nature can empower the land and its people. This presents an opportunity to the world to think about how people and nature should take its form. I think our art work kind of demonstrates that.”
Niigata: an inspiration
The power of art, or perhaps more accurately, the stunning collaborations of art and nature reveals Niigata’s efforts. Efforts to dig up undiscovered assets, and thus find solutions to socio-economic problems. They are truly an inspiration to us all.
This article was originally published on IDEAS FOR GOOD
Translated by Ayako Karino
