Asia's Top Art Havens in Japan, Seoul, Taipei and Dunhuang
You may have made it through the long lines for Michelangelo’s David in Florence and snapped a selfie in front of the smiling first lady of the Louvre, but there are plenty more arty checkpoints to hit closer to home…
Island art-hop in Japan
While many might recognize the giant yellow Yayoi Kusama pumpkin that sits on the edge of a pier on the island of Naoshima, few dig deeper to uncover the emerging contemporary art scene on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea in the south of Japan. The inhabitants once made a living out of fishing and seaweed farming, but these days it’s all about contemporary art. The islands’ flagship event is the Setouchi Triennale (Jul 18-Sep 4; Oct 8- Nov 6, setouchi-artfest.jp), featuring more than 200 art installations and museums spread across the islands.
Kick off your island-hopping at Takamatsu Port, where you can bike past British sculptor Julian Opie’s cartoonish stone sculptures. Go on a scavenger hunt for curious artworks at the least expected places, such as a palm tree girdled by a large buoy in front of an abandoned elementary school in Megijima, or head to Naoshima Bath—a crossover between a bathhouse and an art installation, in which visitors can take a hot bath amongst its chaotic décor, including a stuffed baby elephant.
Read More: 7 Must-eat Food Items When You Visit Osaka, Japan
Mark your park in Seoul
Aside from cosmetic fads, cheesy food and catchy tunes, South Korea has also been hard at work on its flourishing art scene. At the heart of the buzz is Seoul, a bustling hub of creative spaces and galleries. If you’re planning on doing the rounds, don’t miss Gallery Hyundai (14 Samcheong-ro, Jonno-gu, Seoul), the city’s oldest gallery, and Gallery Factory (Jahamunro 10 gil 15, Jongno-gu, Seoul), a hip hub for up-and-coming artists.
Take your outdoor art hunt a step further at Anyang Art Park (131 Yesulgongwon-ro, Manan-gu, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do), located a quick bus ride south of Seoul. Wacky sculptures hide in the nooks and crannies of the forested hill—think grotesque sculptures of animals with extra feet and roses for heads, or a space enclosed by plastic beer boxes that glow in fluorescent hues as the sunlight peeps through.
Read More: How to Eat Your Way Through Korea, Vietnam, Japan and Thailand
See old meeting new in Taipei
