From Hara Museum ARC, Gunma
In the previous post, we announced the opening of the solo exhibition Jean-Michel Othoniel, My Way at the Hara Museum in Tokyo on January 7. So we thought we would take this opportunity to re-introduce Kokoro, the outdoor installation created by Othoniel at Hara Museum ARC in Gunma.
Jean-Michel Othoniel Kokoro 2009
Jean-Michel Othoniel Kokoro (detail) 2009
As the visitor approaches the entrance to the museum, they will be greeted by a large heart-shaped sculpture standing on the pathway. This is Kokoro. Standing more than three meters high, this monumental work consists of more than 60 globes of red Murano glass linked together like a necklace. The gorgeous red color contrasts beautifully with the uniformly black museum structures and surrounding greenery. Its shape is unique for the way it changes as one walks around it, looking very abstract from some angles, and like a large heart from another. Kokoro was specially commissioned to be installed at this spot as part of the ARC’s 20th anniversary expansion project.
One might think of it as the perfect work for the Christmas and New Year season because of the way it warms the heart as you gaze upon it. (For those that do, it just might bring them good luck in the process!)
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Hours: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm *last entry 30 minutes before closing
Closed: Thursdays (except December 29), January 1
*Subject to temporary closure during severe weather.
Admission: General (over 12) 1,000 yen; children (over 3) 500 yen; 10% discount for a group of 20 or more.
*Children must be accompanied by an adult
**Combination ticket for Hara Museum ARC and Ikaho Green Bokujo ranch: General 1,800 yen; Children 900 yen
Getting There: By train: Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Takasaki, change to the Joestu Line, and disembark at Shibukawa. From Shibukawa, ARC is 10 minutes away by taxi or 15 minutes by bus (take the Ikaho Onsen bus to “Green Bokujo Mae”). By car: 8 kilometers (about 15 minutes) from the Kan-etsu Expressway Shibukawa Ikaho Interchange (in the direction of Ikaho Onsen).
＜website＞ http://www.haramuseum.or.jp
＜mobile site＞ http://mobile.haramuseum.or.jp
＜Twitter＞ http://twitter.com/#!/HaraMuseumARC