The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale

Since it was created in 2000 by Fram Kitagawa, head of the Art Front Gallery in Tokyo, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field Triennale has been spread over almost 200 villages to give a new lease of life to the Niigata region, dedicated largely to agriculture and a victim of urban migration.

Over 350 projects are presented over 51 days by artists from all over the world, including, for this year’s edition that lasted until the 17th of September, Tunnel of Light, the restoration of the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel undertaken by the architecture studio MAD Architects. Following the model of the Setouchi Triennale, the works are displayed across the region’s six municipalities. It’s a chance to discover the local culture (Niigata is Japan’s main rice-growing region) and unique creations. One must now wait three years before being able to enjoy it again.