21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa facts for kids
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| Established | October 9, 2004 |
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| Location | Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan |
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (金沢21世紀美術館, Kanazawa Nijūisseiki Bijutsukan) is a cool museum in Kanazawa, Japan. It's a place where you can see contemporary art, which means art made in our time.
Famous Japanese architects, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, designed this museum. They are part of an office called SANAA. The museum opened its doors in 2004. It quickly became very popular! Just one year after opening, over 1.5 million people visited. Even in 2020, when many places had fewer visitors, it was still one of the top ten most-visited art museums in the world.
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The Museum's Unique Building
The museum building is special because it's shaped like a big circle. It's located right in the middle of Kanazawa city. This round shape helps the building look low and welcoming. It also means you can enter the museum from many different spots.
The building is very clear and open, with lots of glass. This design makes sure the museum doesn't feel like a huge, closed-off box. It feels more connected to the outside world.
What's Inside the Circular Building?
Inside, you'll find different kinds of spaces. There are areas for the community, like a library and a place for kids' workshops. These are usually around the edges of the circle. The actual museum galleries are in the middle.
The art galleries come in many sizes and have different lighting. Some are bright with natural light from glass ceilings. Others have no natural light at all. Their heights also vary a lot, from 4 to 12 meters tall! The hallways and walking areas are also designed so they can be used to show art.
There are four glass courtyards inside the building. Each one is unique. They bring natural light into the center of the museum. They also create a nice separation between the community areas and the art spaces.
The Art Collection
The art collection at this museum focuses on works made since 1980. These artworks often show new ideas and ways of thinking.
Many artists are asked to create special art pieces just for this museum. These are called "site-specific" installations. This means the art is made to fit perfectly in its location within the museum. It often connects with the Kanazawa area itself.
Famous Artworks to See
Some of the artists whose works are in the museum include Francis Alys, Matthew Barney, Tony Cragg, Olafur Eliasson, and Leandro Erlich.
Two very popular artworks on permanent display are:
- Leandro Erlich's Swimming Pool (made in 2004): This artwork looks like a swimming pool, but it's actually an illusion! You can stand under it and look up, or look down into it from above.
- Olafur Eliasson's Color Activity House (made in 2010): This is an interactive artwork that plays with light and color.
