The Setouchi Triennale 2019, a contemporary art festival set on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, will be held for a total of 107 days, from April 26 to May 26, July 19 to August 25, and September 28 to November 4, 2019. The project outline was announced on November 7th of this year.



The Setouchi Triennale will be held for the fourth time, and will be based on the theme of "Restoring the Sea," a goal that has been held since the first festival. Since recorded history, the islands of the Seto Inland Sea have been a place where diverse people have come and gone, constantly introducing new cultures and styles. However, in recent years, the islands' uniqueness is being lost due to a decline in regional vitality caused by factors such as population decline and an aging population. Even in this situation, the Seto Inland Sea's beautiful scenery and natural blessings continue to exist. Just as people once interacted with this beautiful nature, the aim is for the Seto Inland Sea and its islands, once restored to their former vitality, to become a source of "hope" for all regions on Earth.

Photo: Osamu Nakamura
Following on from the previous event, the event will be held in three periods: spring, summer, and autumn. The spring season will run from April 26th to May 26th, 2019, the summer season from July 19th to August 25th, and the autumn season from September 28th to November 4th, for a total of 107 days. The festival will be held at Naoshima, Teshima, Megijima, Ogijima, Shodoshima, Oshima, Inujima, Shamijima (spring), Honjima (autumn), Takamijima (autumn), Awashima (autumn), Ibukijima (autumn), the areas around Takamatsu Port, and Uno Port.

Yayoi Kusama, "Red Pumpkin," 2006, Miyanoura Port Green Space, Naoshima / Photo: Daisuke Aochi
One project that is attracting attention is the collaboration between architect Tsuyoshi Tane and contemporary artist Chiharu Shiota, who has been participating since 2010. Shiota's wooden tunnel-like work, "Distant Memory," currently located on Teshima, will be removed and a new work by Tane Tsuyoshi will be created in its place.

On Megijima, the "Small Shop Project (tentative title)" is planned, with participation from artists such as Leandro Erlich, Aiko Miyanaga, and KOURYOU. Erlich, who created "The Presence of Absence" on the island in 2010, plans to open a coin laundry and other facilities on the island, and the project will bring together a collection of "small shops" that will be convenient for islanders and unique spots for visitors from other areas. Miyanaga Aiko is planning to hold a special exhibition at the Takamatsu City Museum of Art during the Setouchi Triennale.

Other key projects include "Setouchi Resources x Artists," which focuses on Setouchi's specialty products and agricultural and marine products; "Regions of Asia x Setouchi Islands," a project in which artists from Asian countries collaborate with the Setouchi islands; and "Island Food x Artists," in which artists unearth and update the traditional cuisine that remains on the Setouchi islands.

In addition, numerous events and performances, such as plays and dance, are planned. Dutch artist Christiaan Bastiaans will create an installation of "precious cargo" on the theme of leprosy on Oshima, and performances featuring world-famous actress Liv Ullmann, Yoshi Oida, Yoshito Ohno, and Shizuka Ishibashi will be held around Oshima and Takamatsu Port.



Yodogawa Technique "Uno's Black Porgy" / Photo: Osamu Nakamura