Guida
Yoro Tenmei Hantenchi is a massive, experiential art installation conceived and realized over 30 years by the world-renowned artist Shu Sano Arakawa and his partner, the poet Madeline Gins. Spanning an expansive area of approximately 18,000 m², the site is filled with ingenious structures designed to unsettle a person's sense of balance and depth perception. Here, the conventional concepts of horizontal and vertical are stripped away. It is a space where you use your entire body to navigate, testing your equilibrium and discovering the hidden possibilities of human physical sensation.
The project opened in 1995. Designed as a site for architectural and artistic experimentation by Arakawa and Gins, the art is not merely something to be observed, but something to be lived through. The experience is only complete when you move through the space and engage with it physically. Within the work, there is a concept known as the 'Path to Not Die,' based on their central theme of survival through architectural challenge. Having been shaped by over three decades of vision, this unique cultural facility attracts nearly 100,000 visitors annually from both Japan and abroad.
The work is primarily composed of two distinct areas.
First is the main pavilion, the 'House of Extreme Similarity.' Characterized by a roof shaped like the silhouette of Gifu Prefecture, the interior features desks, walls, and ceilings arranged in a way that defies up, down, left, and right. This creates a profound visual illusion that affects the whole body. The ceiling area, in particular, presents a world that feels like a reversed version of the first floor.
Second is the 'Elliptical Field.' This area features five different zones inspired by the Japanese archipelago. The terrain is highly undulating, with 148 winding paths where the floor can unexpectedly transform into a wall, creating a sense of instability. Additionally, the largest area contains 24 types of medicinal herbs.
Furthermore, the colorful 'Yoro Tenmei Hantenchi Memorial Museum' is an essential facility. The building reflects the 24 colors of its exterior in its interior design, creating a mysterious atmosphere through the play of natural light. It also hosts exhibitions of sketches and CG works.
The site is planted with 24 types of medicinal herbs, offering different expressions with the changing seasons. The way the light enters the structures and the shifting colors of the buildings provide a different discovery depending on when you visit. Because of the large outdoor field, your visual experience will change based on the weather and the angle of the sun.
The 'experience' of walking and maintaining balance is the art itself. By embracing the illusions and the sensation of instability that you wouldn't encounter in daily life, you can undergo a process of reaffirming your fundamental human senses. Immerse yourself in the world of the artwork by adjusting your gait and balance to the changing topography.
Yoro Tenmei Hantenchi is part of Yoro Park. The surrounding area includes other installations by Arakawa and Gins, such as the 'Insect Mountain Range' and 'Fushi Gate.' It is a beautiful area where art and nature seamlessly blend.
The site contains many depressions, slippery slopes, and uneven surfaces. Because the footing can be unstable, we strongly recommend wearing comfortable clothing and athletic shoes (sneakers). If you are visiting with children, please keep a close eye on them to prevent falls. In case of an emergency, a first-aid kit is available at the museum shop; please ask the staff for assistance. Coin lockers are available for 100 JPY (no change returned). Please note that the use of strollers or wheelchairs is limited; please consult the museum staff for details.