Details have been announced for the Dogo Onsen Art 2014 art festival, which will be held at Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan's oldest hot spring, which will have its grand opening on April 10th.

Dogo Onsen Art 2014 is a hot spring art entertainment event commemorating the 120th anniversary of the reconstruction of the Dogo Onsen Main Building. Artist Yayoi Kusama, photographer Nobuyoshi Araki, Marimekko textile designer Fujio Ishimoto, mina perhonen designer Akira Minagawa, and poet Shuntaro Tanikawa have all turned hotel rooms into artworks, creating a buzz.

The art project is divided into three major parts. The "Onsen Art Collection" will utilize the entire town as its venue, with art displayed along the route from Dogo Station to the main building. Experience the charm of Dogo to the fullest by touring the town day or night. The exterior of the Dogo Onsen Main Building will also be transformed. Nakaya Funiko's "Fog Sculpture" will cast mist from each floor on the north side of the building, drifting toward the town, creating a steamy, hot spring-like atmosphere. Speaking onstage, Nakaya commented, "The north side of the building has a very classical appearance, and the mist, blown by the wind, creates a fantastical space. This major project itself is truly remarkable." Rhizomatiks, a creative group utilizing cutting-edge media technology, will create a light art installation on the south side of the building using projection mapping, which will freely project images to fit the building's shape. Rhizomatiks's Daito Manabe demonstrated software, saying, "We want to create content that visitors can enjoy using an iPad or smartphone to experience the changes in the exterior as they see it with their own eyes and on their screen." Other notable additions include lighting by Taro Suzuki on the stone steps of Isaniwa Shrine and shadow puppets by Australian artist Stephen Mushin, among many other artworks appearing throughout the city. At HOTEL HORIZONTAL, a collection of artworks where guests can stay, approximately 10 hotels and inns will feature artworks by renowned artists. Works by Kusama, Araki, Ishimoto, Minagawa, and Tanigawa were already on display at the pre-opening last year. Takaraso Hotel, which features works by the world-renowned artist Kusama, reportedly saw an increase in visitor numbers, with over 1,000 visitors in January. Four new artworks will be added at the grand opening. Hotel Luna Park will welcome model and actress KIKI, offering rooms inspired by the mountain huts that once defined her as a "mountain girl." At Dogo Yaya, French artist Jean-Luc Vermouth designed a room comprised of three clocks and a drawing of wavy lines extending from them in a circular pattern. At Dogo Prince Hotel, architect Tanijiri Makoto transformed the walls and floors into paintings, creating a trompe l'oeil-like effect. At Funaya, ceramic artist Yuki Hayama designed the rooms, featuring a traditional fish and seaweed motif, a symbol of family prosperity. In a community participation project, local residents, who are responsible for town development, participated in the creation of a logo and the development of Onsen Art uniforms. Events included an art parade and an original tour program by Tsukki Tours, a fictional travel agency planned by local artist Aya Tsukioka. In the Shoninzaka area, a playground for adults will be developed for overnight stays. The yukata robes and towels in the main building were produced by BEAMS.

Dogo Onsen Art will be held as an annual event until the end of fiscal 2014, but the organizers say that it will not be a one-time event, but rather will be rooted in regional revitalization, fostering new leaders by continually updating the artists who create works and organizing events. Tomoka Kai, chairperson of the project executive committee, said, "We hope that people will be able to fully experience the charm of Dogo, and that it will also lead to Matsuyama and Ehime, making it something that can be enjoyed by everyone."


[Event Information]
Dogo Onsen Art 2014
Venue: Dogo Onsen and surrounding area
Dates: Grand opening April 10th, finale December 31st