This article is a translation of the following Japanese article into English. Some expressions may not be accurate.
After visiting the Kyoto Imperial Palace, we headed to the Garden of Fine Art Kyoto. It was an interesting world….
Visit “Garden of Fine Art Kyoto” to enjoy the world of Tadao Ando
Next to Botanical Garden, right next to Kitayama Station
Climb the stairs at Kitayama Station on the Subway Karasuma Line and you will soon arrive at the Garden of Fine Art Kyoto. The facility was designed by Tadao Ando.
In Kyoto, where there are countless temples and other tourist attractions, I never knew there was such a thing! So this is my first visit.
The name “garden” is good.
It was originally the pavilion of DAIKOKU DENKI Co., Ltd. for the “The International Garden and Greenery Exposition” held in Osaka in 1990. The pavilion was also designed by Tadao Ando.
The idea of burning a painting on a ceramic board and enjoying it was the first of its kind in the world. This was when Japan was booming.
At the time of the exposition, there were four works. Four more works were added and are now on display.
Start with Monet’s Water Lilies
The work shown here is a painting baked onto a ceramic board.
This is a wonderful idea because the paintings will not deteriorate easily even if they are left outside, allowing them to be enjoyed outdoors. A total of eight such works are displayed.
Admission fee (100 yen! Yay!), the first thing you can see is Monet’s “Water Lilies, Morning”. That famous water lilies painting is plunged into the water, and suddenly it is a ceramic painting in its own right (lol).
Aside from the fact that the “water lilies” in the water are beautiful, the fact that they were executed is amazing. Monet must have been amazed….
And the journey through the painted garden begins here. The entrance is on the first floor, and the main part is on the basement floor. This is the world of Tadao Ando!
The Kyoto Botanical Garden can be seen through a window cut out of the landscape.
It is the only green element in the garden. The rest consists only of inorganic concrete and an artificial water feature.
Walking around the mysterious space
Concrete, sometimes paintings
Visitors enter from the first floor and gradually descend through a complex series of corridors.
As you continue walking, you will feel confused by the ever-changing landscape.
This is Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper”. Needless to say, it is a famous work.
And at the end of the building is a huge waterfall. It is a waterfall as wide as the entire building. Very dynamic.
The biggest attraction is “The Last Judgment”
The main attraction of this garden is here, Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment”. It is 14 meters long, 13 meters wide, and almost full-size.
It is almost the same height as the building itself, and it looks as if the size of the building was decided for this painting.
There are paintings by Renoir and Van Gogh at the exit. The layout is viewed through glass cutouts in the concrete wall.
The painting seems to be a part of the architectural work. I wonder why the paintings are placed outside but allowed to be viewed through the glass.
Lunch is biryani.
Go to INDIA GATE in Karasuma
After enjoying ANDO World at Garden of Fine Art Kyoto, we returned to the Karasuma area for lunch. Our destination was INDIA GATE.
A house biryani restaurant located in a little alley. It has high expectations.
There is a common problem in curry shops: forgetting the menu unless you take a picture of the blackboard. We did take a picture of the blackboard.
I got a combination of firefly squid biryani and sea bream soup biryani, topped with spiced egg and yam achar!
Both biryani had a gentle flavor. All delicious with side dishes! The best.
The biryani is different from the biryani at Indian restaurants and is full of Kyoto-like flavor. I would like to come back again.
Check out and take your luggage to the satellite concierge of the next hotel.
Back at the hotel, I took the luggage I left in the room and headed for Kyoto Station. Yes, it is convenient to leave your luggage in the room without using the cloakroom because check-out time at sequence KYOTO GOJO is 14:00.
The Westin Miyako Hotel Kyoto is our hotel for the night. I was thankful to use the Satellite Concierge at Kyoto Station, where I could leave my luggage and have it brought to my room free of charge.
After depositing our luggage, we resumed sightseeing again.
Comments