Honjima, Takamijima, Awashima and Ibukijima are small: Their populations vary from about 320 on Ibukijima to simply 30 on Takamijima. On some, it appears there are extra cats than kids and extra deserted homes than ATMs. On all 4 islands, there are definitely extra modern artwork installations than there are conbini (comfort shops).

Away from the monumental concrete discovered on celebrated artwork island Naoshima some 20 kilometers east, on these islands a lot of the artwork is sort of hidden. There are few globally famend artists who’ve left their mark right here, but the organizing rules of the works, together with an environment approaching emptiness, give them a singular texture that stands out on this planet of artwork occasions.