Inujima: A Secret Island

Inujima (犬島, literally: “dog island”) is a small secret island off Okayama in the Seto Inland Sea that is named after a large rock resembling a sitting dog. Like nearby Naoshima Island, Inujima has become known as a site for modern art in recent years and serves as a venue of the Setouchi Triennale modern art festival.

Inujima is the site for the Art House Project. It was launched with the objective of inspiring the local community of Inujima, allowing them to experience the beautiful landscapes of everyday life and the familiar natural environments that extend beyond the artworks.

Three galleries, F-Art House, S-Art House, and I-Art House, designed for special displays, and Nakanotani Gazebo (a rest area) were first opened on the island in 2010. In 2013, with the opening of two new galleries, A-Art House and C-Art House, works are shown at each venue and elsewhere around the village.

The galleries, scattered around the area, are constructed out of a diverse range of materials including roofing tiles and other components of old houses, transparent acrylic glass and aluminum that reflects the landscape.