2012年03月27日
Art in the Park
The other day I strolled into Takamatsu's Chuo Koen, which translates as "Central Park". I often go there when I"m downtown.
The park on a gray day in March
1
Although it's nice, it doesn't look like anything special and, of course, it can't compete with the famous park of the same name in New York. Still, it serves as a haven for many office workers and businessmen who come here to eat their lunches.
In spring and summer, it makes a great picnic site, especially with these great wading spots for the kids.
But what is really surprising is the art to be found within the grounds. With Takamatsu being the home of Aji granite and some of the best stonemasons in the country, there is a lot of great stone art.
Like this
Ofr course, not everyone sees stone as art. For some, stones are just great substitutes for sports lockers.
The park is also a treasure trove of high quality contemporary sculpture by local and semi-local artists such as...
"Sanuki" by Hayami Shiro, a work that reminds me a bit of Japanese rock gardens, where you can never see all the stones at once.
and "Well-Spring" by Yamada Masaji
The number of works has increased over the years with the most recent additions being three pieces of Isamu Noguchi* Play Equipment, installed in 2010. What a treat to be allowed to play on art!
"Octetra"
Inside looking out
"Play Sculpture"
Which feels a bit like riding on the back of a serpent.
"Seesaw"
And that's just a taste of what's there to discover.
The park is actually a symbol of peace and the city's rebirth from the ashes of World War II. For centuries, the land belonged to a major temple but this, along with most of downtown Takamatsu, was burned to the ground in July 1945 when the city was firebombed. When the war ended a month later, the site was set aside for parkland. It was used as a ballpark for almost forty years. Then, in 1985, it was turned into Central Park, a place for citizens' to enjoy the fruits of their recovery efforts. It is now the site for many annual events and festivals.
* Isamu Noguchi was an outstanding 20th century sculptor of mixed Japanese-American heritage. From 1969 until his death in 1988, he spent part of every year sculpting in his studio in Mure, on the east side of Takamatsu. The studio is now a museum and definitely worth a visit! (See http://www.noguchi.org/museum/japan for details.)
The park on a gray day in March
1
Although it's nice, it doesn't look like anything special and, of course, it can't compete with the famous park of the same name in New York. Still, it serves as a haven for many office workers and businessmen who come here to eat their lunches.
In spring and summer, it makes a great picnic site, especially with these great wading spots for the kids.
But what is really surprising is the art to be found within the grounds. With Takamatsu being the home of Aji granite and some of the best stonemasons in the country, there is a lot of great stone art.
Like this
Ofr course, not everyone sees stone as art. For some, stones are just great substitutes for sports lockers.
The park is also a treasure trove of high quality contemporary sculpture by local and semi-local artists such as...
"Sanuki" by Hayami Shiro, a work that reminds me a bit of Japanese rock gardens, where you can never see all the stones at once.
and "Well-Spring" by Yamada Masaji
The number of works has increased over the years with the most recent additions being three pieces of Isamu Noguchi* Play Equipment, installed in 2010. What a treat to be allowed to play on art!
"Octetra"
Inside looking out
"Play Sculpture"
Which feels a bit like riding on the back of a serpent.
"Seesaw"
And that's just a taste of what's there to discover.
The park is actually a symbol of peace and the city's rebirth from the ashes of World War II. For centuries, the land belonged to a major temple but this, along with most of downtown Takamatsu, was burned to the ground in July 1945 when the city was firebombed. When the war ended a month later, the site was set aside for parkland. It was used as a ballpark for almost forty years. Then, in 1985, it was turned into Central Park, a place for citizens' to enjoy the fruits of their recovery efforts. It is now the site for many annual events and festivals.
* Isamu Noguchi was an outstanding 20th century sculptor of mixed Japanese-American heritage. From 1969 until his death in 1988, he spent part of every year sculpting in his studio in Mure, on the east side of Takamatsu. The studio is now a museum and definitely worth a visit! (See http://www.noguchi.org/museum/japan for details.)
My Profile
Cathy Hirano キャシー ヒラノ
I've lived in Japan since 1978. After graduating from a Japanese university with a BA in cultural anthropology in 1983, I worked as a translator in a Japanese consulting engineering firm in Tokyo for several years. My Japanese husband and I moved to Takamatsu in 1987 to raise our two children in a slower-paced environment away from the big city pressures. We've never regretted it. I work as a freelance translator and interpreter and am involved in a lot of community work, including volunteering for Second Hand, a local NGO that supports educational and vocational training initiatives in Cambodia, and for the Takamatsu International Association. I love living in Takamatsu.
Cathy Hirano キャシー ヒラノ
I've lived in Japan since 1978. After graduating from a Japanese university with a BA in cultural anthropology in 1983, I worked as a translator in a Japanese consulting engineering firm in Tokyo for several years. My Japanese husband and I moved to Takamatsu in 1987 to raise our two children in a slower-paced environment away from the big city pressures. We've never regretted it. I work as a freelance translator and interpreter and am involved in a lot of community work, including volunteering for Second Hand, a local NGO that supports educational and vocational training initiatives in Cambodia, and for the Takamatsu International Association. I love living in Takamatsu.
Posted by cathy at 01:17│Comments(2)
この記事へのコメント
I should really look at Chuo Koen in more details. Every time I cross it (which is quite rarely I must admit), I barely pay attention to all the details, and it is indeed more interesting than I give it credit for.
Thanks Cathy for this post.
Thanks Cathy for this post.
Posted by David at 2012年03月31日 22:59
Nice to hear from you, David! It's a nice place to take a bento if you're downtown.
Posted by cathy at 2012年03月31日 23:36
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