🖼️ Benesse Art Site Naoshima: A Legacy of Industrial Rebirth through Art and Community

 

✨ Have you ever imagined that industrial land could be transformed into a global hub for art and culture?

🌿 In the late 1980s, Benesse Art Site Naoshima was one of the projects aimed at revitalizing the island of Naoshima through art tourism, a creative collaboration with artists and architects from around the globe

🎨 Today, iconic spaces like the Chichu Art Museum and Art House Project continue to inspire visitors, making Naoshima a symbol of artistic innovation and community spirit

 

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🏭 Industrial foundations in the 20th century

Naoshima’s modern history begins with the establishment of the Naoshima Smelter & Refinery by Mitsubishi Materials in 1917. For much of the 20th century, it played a central role in Japan’s industrial economy and became one of four Japanese copper smelters ranked among the world’s top 20 producers of refined copper.

However, by the 1970s, shifts in global trade and Japan’s decision to import cheaper copper from overseas destabilized local industry. As output decreased, so did employment, leading to fears about the island’s long-term viability. The industrial boom that had once sustained the island now appeared to be its greatest vulnerability.

 

🌱 A Vision of Cultural Regeneration

Recognizing the pressing need for reinvention, then-Mayor Chikatsugu Miyake envisioned tourism as a pathway forward. In 1985, he partnered with Tetsuhiko Fukutake, the founder of Fukutake Publishing (now Benesse Holdings), to reimagine Naoshima’s identity. They shared a belief in cultural enrichment as a transformative force, expressing a desire:

“To transform the island into a cultural tourism hub, and create a place for children worldwide to gather together.”

This vision laid the groundwork for what would later become the Benesse Art Site Naoshima.

 

🚩 Pioneering Initiatives and the Birth of a Cultural Site

The Naoshima International Camp launched in 1989 as the first step toward this new future. Located along the Setouchi coastline, the camp featured Mongolian yurts and emphasized global exchange and nature-based learning.

In 1992, the Benesse House Museum opened its doors — a hybrid art museum and hotel designed by legendary architect Tadao Ando. With its focus on the coexistence of nature, art, and architecture, it quickly became a landmark for those seeking immersive and contemplative cultural experiences.

The Art House Project began in 1998, converting abandoned traditional homes into contemporary art installations within the Honmura district. This initiative bridged the divide between locals and visiting creatives, inviting residents to interact with art not as spectators but as cohabitants. It was a profound shift — art was no longer confined to museums but embedded within everyday life.

 

🌊 Expansion across the Seto Inland Sea

From the early 2000s, Benesse’s artistic vision expanded to neighboring islands:

• 2004: The Chichu Art Museum, built mostly underground to preserve the island’s natural landscape, featured works by Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria. Its natural-light-only concept exemplified architectural humility and ecological awareness.

• 2008: The Inujima Seirensho Art Museum repurposed a former copper refinery, reflecting the region’s industrial past while embracing environmental themes.

• 2010: The Teshima Art Museum opened, merging organic architecture with sensory experiences to redefine spatial perception.

The establishment of the Setouchi International Art Festival in 2010 further solidified the region’s status as a global art destination. Every three years, this triennale draws over 1 million visitors to the Setouchi islands, including Naoshima, Inujima, and Teshima. Tourism to Naoshima surged from 40,000 to over 400,000 visitors annually, generating more than 10 billion yen in local revenue. It became not only a cultural renaissance but also a powerful engine of rural revitalization.

 

💡 Beyond Tourism: The Philosophy of Benesse

The evolution of Naoshima is not merely about attracting tourists but nurturing a space that fosters well-being, reflection, and limitless possibility. As Shigeki Fukumoto, Supervisor of the Benesse Art Site, stated:

“Instead of a tourist destination, we want to create a place that embodies the sense of Benesse (well-being) as a source of inspiration and limitless possibilities.”

This philosophical commitment positions the site as a living, breathing example of how art can heal, educate, and inspire across generations.

 

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Once a peripheral island dominated by heavy industry, Naoshima has emerged as a global symbol of cultural regeneration. Through visionary leadership and strategic partnerships, what began as a site of industrial decline has become a sanctuary of contemporary art, sustainability, and community enrichment. 

 

References:

Pollon, C. (2014). Where Copper Meets Fire. The Tyee.                                    https://thetyee.ca/News/2014/03/26/Copper-Meets-Fire/

Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. (2015). Naoshima Smelter & Refinery: Environmental and Operational Updates. https://www.mmc.co.jp/corporate/en/news/2015/news20150625.html

BBC Travel. (2025). The Japanese Island That Was Saved by Art.          https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250529-the-japanese-island-that-was-saved-by-art

Benesse Art Site Naoshima. (n.d.). Official Website. https://benesse-artsite.jp/en/