Day 23: Nagoya

 

Day 23: Nagoya

QOTD:  Isn’t that by the same guy whose studio we visited on outskirts of Kyoto?

Weather: mid 70s and breezy, lovely

Pics:  FCtr, breakfast, Aichi Trienniale (one huge display is by a guy that also did one of our fave pieces on Shodoshima, the head that lurches up and drips water), lunch, more triennale (the bowling pins are an exhibit that starts inside the building, then slides out into the street), street scenes, THB’s souvenir and the passports, a gift from Liisa

THB gets back into his normal routine, visiting the fitness center before breakfast. Yesterday afternoon: 9 people; this morning: only your loyal correspondent.

At 9:30, Liisa, an art jeweler from Osaka that DB befriended, has come to Nagoya for the day to guide us through the Aichi Triennale 2013. A short subway ride and we’re at the Aichi Art Center where two floors have been given over to the Triennale.

It takes us almost 2 hours to get through one floor! These are major pieces, most of them occupy at least one large room, sometimes more, edgy and worth the time spent.

Best of all, we have bought “all day” passes to the different sites (each floor in the Aichi Art Center counts as a site) and they stamp the passport as we enter (and THB discovers another stamp to apply to his passport as well: HEAVEN blesses those that count!).

It’s noon, so we eat in a café on the lower floor of the building while a young orchestra practices pieces down below us somewhere in the atrium. Soba and shrimp tempura plus a lemonade for THB, we share the cost of Liisa’s meal, total per couple is $18.

Back up to the other floor in the building, cover another impressive set of installations, videos, a few “paintings” and people watching. From there, Liisa gets us via subway and walking to the other site of seven that’s worth visiting (she’s a great guide, predetermining what is worthwhile).

And, this site is also exceptional, including work by Kohei Nawa, aka Bubble Boy: we visited his studio in Kyoto, and those pics are still available by request. Here we can take pics of his work, The Foam. It’s getting on to four and we’ve hit the wall, so walk back to the Marriott, share drinks (shockingly cheap even if it is happy hour...it must be VERY happy hour) and gifts, say goodbye to Liisa, and then decide the best bet is Takashimaya food and dining en suite. With beer and sake, $30.