ART | Unveiling 'HOTEL HORIZONTAL,' an installation you can stay in

ART│Dogo On Art 2014, an Art Festival Set in a Hot Spring Town

Introducing HOTEL HORIZONTAL, an Installation You Can Stay In, and More

Ahead of the main event in April, some of the works for the art festival "Dogo On Art 2014," opening in April in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, were unveiled starting December 24 (Tues). The "HOTEL HORIZONTAL" project, where renowned artists have transformed hotel and ryokan rooms into installation art, was among those revealed, promising an exciting atmosphere even before the grand opening.

Text by YANAKA Tomomi

Featuring a Stellar Lineup of Artists Including Nobuyoshi Araki, Yayoi Kusama, and Shuntaro Tanigawa

"Dogo On Art 2014" is an art festival held in Dogo, a hot spring town in Matsuyama City, commemorating the 120th anniversary of the renovation of the historic Dogo Onsen Honkan. The festival will feature art events, exhibitions, and public viewings, with opportunities for citizens and children to participate.

A particularly unique initiative for a hot spring town is "Hotel Horizontal," an art project involving 10 surrounding hotels where guests can actually stay. Each hotel room is transformed by an artist into an installation based on the theme "The deepest dream."

Starting December 24 (Tues), five of the ten participating hotels will offer a pre-opening experience. At "Hotel Koyokuen," photographer Nobuyoshi Araki presents "Rakuen" (Paradise), featuring his photographic works. Meanwhile, avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama has created a room at "Housou Hotel" titled "My Soul's Memory. In Search of Various Happiness."

Yayoi Kusama ©YAYOI KUSAMA

Nobuyoshi Araki

Akira Minagawa Photo: Norio Kidera

Furthermore, Shuntaro Tanigawa, a leading Japanese poet, has conceptualized a room as a space where he visits and works in Dogo Onsen. Akira Minagawa, designer for the fashion brand "mina perhonen," has covered all surfaces—walls and floors—with perfectly square tatami mats, creating a charming room accented with mina perhonen's signature "choucho" textiles and linens.

Fumio Ishimoto, originally from Tobe Town, Ehime Prefecture, and a long-time textile designer for "Marimekko," now works in ceramics as part of the art division at Finland's renowned "Arabia" porcelain company. He presents an original room that elegantly fuses Japanese and Western styles with linens made from his own fabric designs. All these rooms are available for overnight stays and are also open to the public during specific hours.

Fumio Ishimoto Photo: Katsuhiro Ichikawa

To commemorate the pre-opening of "Dogo On Art 2014," a variety of events are being held, including "GINGA," an art installation by Jiro Hirano where citizens participate by holding glowing balloons to create a giant river of light.

Dogo Onsen is showcasing a new charm through experiential art. We invite you to witness the moment the historic Dogo Onsen Honkan, celebrating its 120th anniversary, transforms into a work of art through the hands of various artists.

Dogo On Art 2014 "HOTEL HORIZONTAL"

Period│Pre-opening: December 24 (Tues) –

Grand Opening: April 10, 2014 (Thurs) – December 31, 2014 (Wed)

*Hotel Horizontal runs until January 12, 2015 (Mon, holiday)

Participating Artists

Nobuyoshi Araki "Rakuen": Hotel Koyokuen

Fumio Ishimoto "Suuri Taiga": Chaharu

Yayoi Kusama "My Soul's Memory. In Search of Various Happiness.": Housou Hotel

Shuntaro Tanigawa "Hana no Ie": Dogokan

Akira Minagawa "Ro": Hanayuzuki