Since the island has been designated an art destination there are multiple venues. The Benesee House museum which has 20 guest rooms with sweeping sea views. I stayed there and luckily I had just dressed when two little Japanese boys invaded my balcony. They would probably have died of fright or worse pointed and asked questions in Japanese. There are 3 other museums, the outdoor sculptures and 6 art house projects. These are centuries old houses now converted into experiental and avant guarde sites
You take off your shoes as you enter each. One was 100% pitch black. My guide put my hand on the left wall and I followed his voice. He only knew enough English to say STRAIGHT LEFT CORNER BENCH SIT. Then I waited forever for my eyes to get accustomed to the datkness. He kept asking me if I could see the screen. I couldn’t. Finally after some shuffling ahead in the abyss the blank screen came into view. TOUCH IT he said
I reached out my hand and nothing was there
The feeling of being totally in a vacuum. Utter darkness wasn’t disconcerting because I used the void to focus on all of the colors that are in black. As I watched the blackness the colors would swirl around like belles at the ball presenting themselves. It was lovely
But the pressure grew when I just didn’t see the screen. Older eyes take longer to adjust to darkness. So I was getting a little anxious demanding that I adjust more quickly. I felt so successful when the screen finally appeared that there was a rush of relief.
This relief was short-lived though at the realization that there was no screen—only light. The artist is Turell. There was another larger piece of his at a diffetent museum. Theres a small sense of being tricked but wonder follows quickly and then you just want to repeat the experience to savor it again
Another of the houses was at least 400 years old wih the small rooms and rice paper partitions. A walkway was constructed all the way around the room and you encircled the exhibit which was a pool of water into which were floating neon digits counting at different speeds and in different colors. You could focus on a set at a time or pull back your perspective and let your mind take in the whole array of numbers increasing at different speeds
I was engrossed in this and of course focused on relativity. OL Einstein gets around doesn’t he ?
All of the art house projects were like thesr. Captivating anf visceral. Pleasr google them to leatn more. Turell will be at the top of my list no pictures allowed.
Tomorrow Mongolia.
