Hara Museum ARC （a report from the Hara Museum membership program）
On Saturday, March 20, the long-awaited permanent installation by Lee Bul was unveiled at Hara Museum ARC in Gunma prefecture, the annex museum of the Hara Museum.
To celebrate the event, an opening party was held, attended by Hara Museum members as part of a bus tour organized by the Membership Program. The festivities included the traditional breaking open of a barrel of sake by the artist and museum director Toshio Hara. And so, with a cup of sake in every hand, a hearty toast was said in honor of the stunning new installation that now stands at the entrance of the museum.
Moving over to the museum café, the guests were treated to special mini burgers, along with yummy winter strawberries, fresh from the Eco Strawberry House of the neighboring Ikaho Green Bokujo.
Topping off the tour, guests were taken to the nearby Ikaho hot springs, one of Gunma’s three most famous spas which is a mere 5 minutes away from the museum. Ancient stone steps going up a steep incline are part of the hilly resort’s traditional charm. Those who managed to make it to the top were rewarded with a dip in an outdoor bath, which many veterans of past bus tours claim is the best part of trip.
From the middle of April to the beginning of May, cherry blossoms in full bloom grace the grounds of Hara Museum ARC. The sight of the museum’s stark black buildings against the pink backdrop of the blossoms will take your breath away. Please come and enjoy the view!
Hara Museum Membership Program
http://www.haramuseum.or.jp/jp/common/membership/index.html
Hara Museum Web
http://www.haramuseum.or.jp
Ikaho Green Bokujo
http://www.greenbokujo.co.jp
General information
https://www.art-it.asia/en/u/HaraMuseum_e/?y=&m=&d=&ca1=5
Yang Fudong： The General’s Smile is on view at the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo until May 23.
http://www.haramuseum.or.jp