Close to ART

The Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum, located a short ride from Shibuya Station, is a museum that opened in 1998 as a renovation of artist Taro Okamoto's home studio. Over 50 years, He created many works of public art there, such as the Myth of Tomorrow, a large mural exhibited in Shibuya Station, and the Tower of the Sun made for the Osaka Expo. The workshop contains old brushes, paint-covered floors, and shelves with unfinished canvases, conveying the passion of the 20th century artist.

"The Reversible Destiny Lofts Mitaka" is a colorful group of housing units located in Mitaka, a sleepy Tokyo suburb. Designed by artists Arakawa Shusaku and Madeline Gins in 2005, the buildings function as both art and living space. The 9 lofts are designed "not to die," taking residents out of their comfort zones with spherical rooms, bumpy floors and more. We talk to those who live and work here as we discover what motivated Arakawa and Gins to build the lofts in the first place.

The Taro Okamoto Museum of Art closed for 2 months due to COVID-19, but following Okamoto's words that art is "essential to human life," it found new methods to convey the unique power in his works. It opened the museum to internet virtual reality tours, allowing guests to enjoy his art remotely. In this time of uncertainty, Okamoto's Myth of Tomorrow, which is exhibited inside Shibuya Station, as well as other publicly displayed art reminds all people of the importance of perseverance.

The Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, or the "Watari-um," is a privately-owned museum in Tokyo's central Shibuya Ward. In 1990, it was constructed from a design by architect Mario Botta in a uniquely triangular shape. Founder Watari Shizuko and her children Etsuko and Koichi held close dialogues with artists in order to present the most cutting-edge art. For a limited time in 2021, the museum will erect "art pavilions" all around Tokyo, as they seek out new perspectives in artistic beauty.