basic information

Over 300 art works by more than 200 artists from 46 countries are exhibited during the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, producing an intriguing combination of modern art with traditional countryside.

Rather than concentrated in a single location, the art exhibits are scattered all over the Echigo-Tsumari region. Most of them are in the open air, in rice fields, besides rivers or in the villages. While some of the exhibits are near the town centers, others stand in remote places, that are quite difficult to access.

Over 130 of the art works of previous triennials, able to withstand the heavy snow of the winter months, have become permanent exhibits, justifying a visit to the Echigo-Tsumari region also outside the triennials.

All art exhibits are related to the people, lifestyle, landscape or social issues of the region. A special theme of the 2006 triennial was abandoned buildings, which have become numerous due to the depopulation trend. Several dozen abandoned buildings were used to exhibit art objects or as art works themselves.

Furthermore, various events are held during the triennials and during smaller festivals in the summers between triennials, some of which are using art exhibits as their stage. Please check the official festival website (see links at the bottom of the page) for an event calendar.

Below follows an incomplete list of some outstanding permanent art exhibits to be viewed in the Tsumari-Echigo region:

	Echigo-Tsumari Exchange Center "Kinare" By Hiroshi Hara + ATELIER, Japan Exhibit number: 59 Location: central Tokamachi Built in 2003 (permanent exhibit) Reached in a ten minute walk from Tokamachi Station, the Kinare is one of the festival's stages and information centers.
	For Lots of Lost Windows By Akiko Utsumi, Japan Exhibit number: 176 Location: Tokamachi Area Built in 2006 (permanent exhibit) A window to rediscover the ordinary view of the landscape.
	POTEMKIN By Architect Office Casagrande & Rintala, Finland Exhibit number: 178 Location: Tokamachi Area Built in 2003 (permanent exhibit) Former illegal dumping ground turned into a riverside park.
	restructure By Harumi Yukutake, Japan Exhibit number: 45 Location: Tokamachi Area Built in 2006 (permanent exhibit) House covered by mirrors on the inside and outside.
	No Butai Snow-Land Agrarian Culture Center By MVRDV, The Netherlands Exhibit number: 234 Location: central Matsudai Built in 2003 (permanent exhibit) Five minutes from Matsudai Station on foot, the No Butai is another of the festival's stages and information centers.
	The Rice Field By Iliya & Emilia Kabakov, Russia Exhibit number: 249 Location: central Matsudai Built in 2000 (permanent exhibit) Sculptures in terraced rice fields combined with poems, when viewed from the No Butai.
	Scarecrow Project By Oscar Satio Oiwa, Brazil Exhibit number: 260 Location: central Matsudai Built in 2000 (permanent exhibit) Red figures, depicting a farmer's family, working in a terraced rice field.
	The Seat of Rain Spirit By Takamasa Kuniyasu, Japan Exhibit number: 276 Location: central Matsudai Built in 2000 (permanent exhibit) An evolving sculpture made of tree trunks, depicting the water god, guarding rice fields.
	Mountain By Richard Deacon, United Kingdom Exhibit number: 215 Location: Matsudai Area Built in 2006 (permanent exhibit) Sculpture along a remote mountain road.
	Wind Screen By Yasuyoshi Sugiura, Japan Exhibit number: 288 Location: Matsudai Area Built in 2006 (permanent exhibit) Wall of two thousand ceramic blocks along a terraced rice field.
	Sheding House By University College of Art Sculpture Course, Japan Exhibit number: 289 Location: Matsudai Area Built in 2006 (permanent exhibit) Carvings cover the walls, pillars and floors of this abandoned house.
	Dream House By Marina Abranovic, Former Yugoslavia Exhibit number: 320 Location: Matsunoyama Area Built in 2000 (permanent exhibit) One of the art exhibits that double functions as an accommodation. Guests are asked to record their dreams into a book.
	The Last Class By Christian Boltanski + Jean Kalman, France Exhibit number: 329 Location: Matsunoyama Area Built in 2006 (permanent exhibit) An abandoned school turned into a haunted house like art object.

Guide to the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennial: Festival Highlights Local Attractions Practical Information

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