Matsudai Nohbutai, Art museum in Tokamachi, Japan
Matsudai Nohbutai is an art museum in Tokamachi designed to blend with the rural surroundings and display artworks spread across a large area. The architecture uses natural pathways and staircases to offer visitors different viewpoints for experiencing the installations.
The museum was designed in 2003 by Dutch architects MVRDV as their first major project in Asia. Its opening established a new center combining art with the agricultural landscape of the region.
The name combines Noh theatre with the concept of a stage, reflecting how artworks are presented as performances within the landscape. Visitors experience a dialogue between traditional Japanese culture and contemporary art placed in open spaces.
The museum is best explored on foot since artworks are spread over distance and involve climbing several staircases. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and prepare for changing weather, as many works are outdoors.
A distinctive red spiral staircase leads to a rooftop platform offering views across the entire site and surrounding rice fields. The staircases themselves serve as viewing platforms from which to see artworks from unexpected angles.
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