What is travel art? Murakami Kaikai experiences French luxury with the DS 7

The "Dream of the Room" Exhibition at Pola Museum of Art and the DS 7 Interior

The first stop in Hakone was the Pola Museum of Art, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. The building, designed with consideration for the surrounding natural environment, is particularly striking.

What is Travel Art? Murakami Kaikai experiences French luxury with the DS7 | DS

The approach, from parking the DS 7 and crossing a path surrounded by lush greenery to entering the beautiful building with its glass roof harmonizing with the mountains, is pleasant, as if it naturally calms one's pulse and mind. It is a space where wellness and beauty coexist.

Murakami"I visit Hakone and Izu frequently, so I stop by here several times a year. The last time I was here was for the Roni Horn exhibition (held in 2021-22). I'm also looking forward to seeing the Gerhard Richter works currently on display in the collection."

Left: Tomokazu Moriyama, "Cosmos," 2022, Artist's Collection. Right: Midori Sato, "Rose Garden Closet," 2022, Artist's Collection.

First, we viewed the special exhibition "Dream of the Room - From Bonnard to Tillmans and Contemporary Artists" (held until July 2).

During the pandemic, when travel was severely restricted, the "room" was undoubtedly a space that offered comfort to everyone. Many artists have taken "rooms" as a motif for their creations. Now that we can go out freely, the exhibition aims to offer new perspectives and discoveries by engaging with works themed around rooms.

Anuko Takada & Masako Takada, "Inside-out/Outside-in" (detail), 2023, Artist's Collection.

From the historical context of classical still life paintings to the meticulous detail of contemporary artists and installations using small windows and mirrors, one is comfortably drawn into the depth of limited spaces and the mystery of the world.

Murakami"Whenever I travel abroad or domestically, I visit museums whenever I can. It's not just about seeing the works of artists I know or don't know; there are often unexpected discoveries that I realize later from what I've seen."

After enjoying a special dessert at the attached cafe, "Strawberry and Yogurt Mousse with Mascarpone Ice Cream," inspired by the special exhibition, we finally proceeded to the long-awaited Gerhard Richter exhibition room. In the dimly lit space, after closely observing the large-format abstract paintings, Kaikai was visibly excited.

Murakami"Thanks to the lighting, I could really appreciate the precision of the colors and the lack of hesitation, even seeing the texture of the oil paint layers."

Nanyo"In art criticism, we often say a work has 'matière' (material texture). That applies quite well to cars, especially in the case of the DS 7."

Indeed, after being stimulated by the "matière" (material texture) of the artworks, returning to the DS 7's interior, one is reminded of the richness of its materials.

Murakami"Are these seats made from a single piece of leather? That explains why they feel so enveloping and comfortable."

Nanyo"France has a system equivalent to the master craftsman system. Instead of joining small leather pieces, the parts that wrap around the body are made from a single piece of leather, folded and sewn. This is part of the 'savoir-faire' that DS emphasizes – the culmination of artisanal skill."

Visually, the interior is unified with a matte charcoal gray texture, and to the touch, it has a soft tone with a pleasant subtle grip.

Nanyo"Also, the way the dashboard clock retracts with a whirring sound when the engine is turned off is amusing, but the area where the central clock is placed shows classical details."

"Speaking of watches, the guilloché or Clous de Paris pattern was originally a surface treatment to prevent glare on the dial. The fact that it's placed in areas where reflections could bother the driver's eyes shows it's not just for aesthetics."