Spotted: Matsumoto City Museum of Art

Bagi seniman, karya seni adalah representasi jiwa mereka, pecahan dari manifestasi pikiran mereka yang liar dan seringkali sulit dimengerti kebanyakan orang.

For artists, an artwork is the representative of their soul and manifestation of their wild imagination that somehow would be hard for many people to understand.

Nama Yayoi Kusama mungkin terdengar asing bagi kita yang tidak bergerak di bidang seni, namun karyanya telah mendunia. Saat melihat instalasi besar berbentuk empat bunga dengan warna cerah dan bintik-bintik berwarna-warni di depan gedung Matsumoto City Museum of Art, saya merasa tidak asing dengan pattern yang ada.

Yayoi Kusama maybe sounds unfamiliar to those who are not working in arts; nevertheless her works have been worldwide. When I saw a big installation work in a shape of four bright flowers and colorful spots in front of Matsumoto City Museum of Art, I feel so familiar with the pattern.

Yayoi Kusama, pic source: oddpears.com

Bintik-bintik atau spots memang menjadi ciri khas Yayoi Kusama, seniman asal Nagano, Jepang yang dianggap "gila" sejak kecil. Di masa mudanya Yayoi selalu melihat pattern spots dalam pikirannya dan menuangkan dalam berbagai coretan gambar yang tampak aneh.

Spots is the characteristic of Yayoi Kusama, an artist from Nagano, Japan, who considered being “crazy” since childhood. During her youth, Yayoi always saw pattern spots in her mind and turned it into various random sketches.

Her spotted mind, pic source: hypebeast.com

The famous Yayoi pumpkin, pic source: huffingtonpost.com

Ia kemudian melanjutkan pendidikan di Amerika dan menemukan pattern yang menjadi ciri khasnya. Beberapa karya Yayoi yang terkenal antara lain lukisan dan karya instalasi berbentuk labu kuning dengan bintik-bintik hitam. Yayoi juga terkenal dengan karya pattern bintik-bintik yang mengkombinasikan warna merah dan putih.

She continued studying to America and finding a specific pattern to be her characteristic. Some of Yayoi’s famous works are paintings and installation in a yellow pumpkin pattern with black spots. Yayoi is also well-known with the spotted pattern combination of red and white color.

Memasuki Matsumoto City of Museum of Art bagaikan memasuki dunia Yayoi. Display pameran permanen semuanya adalah karya Yayoi, saat masuk ke area dalam museum kami seakan masuk dalam sela-sela pikirannya yang dipenuhi bintik dan ragam bentuk sederhana namun menarik.

Entering Matsumoto City Museum of Art felt like getting into Yayoi’s world. All display in the permanent exhibition was purely Yayoi’s work. When we walked around the areas of the museum as if we explored every corner of her mind, full with spots and simple pattern yet so catchy.

Area permanent exhibition ini adalah area dimana kita tidak boleh mengambil gambar. Namun ini justru membuat kami lebih menikmati suasana dan sensasi visual yang ada tanpa pikiran untuk mengambil foto dan mencari angle.

This permanent exhibition area is restricted for taking a picture. But it made us more enjoy the circumstance and got impressed visually without busy about looking for angle.

And you're inside her mind, pic source: jpf.org.vn

Feels like in a different world, pic source: artboom.info

Ada kalanya kami dibawa ke ruangan merah dengan bintik-bintik putih, ataupun satu lorong dengan kaca di dua sisi yang memantulkan bentuk-bentuk memanjang dengan bintik khas Yayoi. Satu lagi karya instalasinya yang mempesona mata kita adalah ruangan dengan kaca di semua sisi dan permainan cahaya titik-titik lampu yang membawa kita ke dunia yang berbeda. Imajinasi liar dan kreatif seorang Yayoi Kusama dapat dinikmati dengan apik di museum ini.

There was a time where we were taken to the red room with white spot and another time we were in a corridor with glasses on the both sides reflected long patterns with Yayoi’s typical spots. Another her installation work that kept us amazed is a glass room with a light spots trick as if we were thrown in the different world. The wild and creative imagination of Yayoi Kusama is fully pleasing the visitor of the museum.

Yayoi Kusama's collaboration with Louis Vuitton, pic source: vogue.co.uk

Saat keluar dan melewati deretan vending machine dengan pattern khas Yayoi ini saya teringat koleksi Louis Vuitton dengan pattern serupa yang ternyata merupakan kolaborasi Yayoi dengan creative director Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs di tahun 2006.

When I went out and passed through the vending machine, again, with the touch of Yayoi, I remembered the Louis Vuitton collection with the similar pattern which apparently collaboration between Yayoi and the creative director of Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, in 2006.

Yayoi membuktikan bahwa kreativitas tidak terbatas, bahwa tidak ada batasan akan karya seni. Ia membuat sketsa, lukisan, patung, karya instalasi hingga kolaborasi dengan brand kelas dunia. Di umur 86 tahun achievement seniman asal Nagano ini sudah tidak terhitung, tidak heran satu gedung didedikasikan untuk karya-karyanya.

Yayoi proved that creativity has no limit and so does art. She made sketches, painting, statues, installation artwork, even collaboration with the world-class brand. At the ages of 86, this artist from Nagano already received countless achievement, no wonder there is a building dedicated to her works.

@marischkaprue - sometimes she got some spots on her mind also

NOTES

Where

Matsumoto City Museum of Art

4-2-22 Chuo, Matsumoto

Nagano, Jepang

T: +81 263 397400

W: matsumoto-artmuse.jp

e: museum@city.matsumoto.nagano.jp

Admission Fee

Permanent Collection (karya Yayoi Kusama) ¥410 (Dewasa), ¥200 (Pelajar)

**Untuk non permanent exhibition tiket dijual terpisah

Permanent Collection (by Yayoi Kusama) ¥410 (Adult), ¥200 (Student)

**Tickets for Non Permanent Exhibition are sold separately

 

To Know

Kita tidak boleh mengambil foto di dalam area permanent exhibition, area luar bebas untuk berfoto. 

We are not allowed to take pictures in the area of permanent exhibition but it is free in outside area.

 

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Kamikochi: Little Switzerland in Japan

"Pernah ada turis dari Swiss yang mengirimkan foto di sini kepada temannya dan langsung dibalas 'kamu sudah kembali ke Swiss?' haha," ujar Teddy Yamaishi yang menemani kami selama di Matsumoto, Jepang.

“A tourist from Switzerland once sent a photo of this place to his friend and immediately got reply, ‘are you back to Switzerland?’ haha,” Teddy Yamaishi, our guide in Matsumoto, Japan, said.

Memang pemandangan gunung es, danau biru dan cuaca dingin membuat pikiran saya kembali melayang ke Switzerland, negara yang populer dengan pemandangan serupa dengan yang sedang saya saksikan.

Combination of snow-mountain, blue lake, and the cold weather, again, got me think about Switzerland, a famous country with the similar view like I had right now.

Danau Taisho adalah perhentian pertama kami di Kamikochi, area pegunungan tinggi di Chubu Sangaku National Park. Danau Taisho atau Taisho pond terbentuk dari aliran Sungai Azusa yang dikelilingi pegunungan tinggi yang tertutup salju bahkan di musim panas. Sangat menyenangkan melihat perahu kecil, kehijauan hutan dan tentunya Gunung Nishi-Hotakadake dan puncak Nishiho Doppyo yang tertutup salju.

Taisho Pond was our first stop in Kamikochi, a high mountains area in Chubu Sangaku National Park. It was formed from the streams of Azusa River, surrounded by high mountains that covered with snow even on summer. It’s really exciting seeing a small boat, green forest, and of course Nishi-Hotakadake Mountain with the snowy peak of Nishiho Doppyo.

Kamikochi adalah area yang sangat cocok bagi pecinta alam, saya hanya melakukan trekking pendek dari jalur Teikoku hingga Kappa Bridge, namun trek panjang tersedia melewati hutan pinus dan sisi Sungai Azusa yang indah. Beberapa penginapan yang ada tampak sangat menyenangkan, Hotel Imperial yang berwarna merah ini tampak kontras dengan kehijauan hutan di sekelilingnya. It's gonna be nice to spend a day on place like this, pikir saya saat melewati hotel yang berada di salah satu sisi jalur trekking ini.

Kamikochi was a perfect place for nature lovers. I only did short trek from Teikoku track to Kappa Bridge, but there was a longer trek through the pine trees and the beautiful Azusa River. Some inns caught my eye, like this red Imperial Hotel that so contrast with the green forest around. As I walked through one hotel alongside the trekking track, I told to myself that it’s gonna be nice to spend a day on place like this.

Kami berhenti di Kappa Bridge dan menikmati suasana menyenangkan di sisi sungai. Air sedang surut sehingga saya bisa bersantai di area berbatu sambil menikmati es krim lembut khas Kamikochi. Tidak terasa kami sudah menghabiskan waktu berjam-jam di Kamikochi, feels like I don't wanna leave Switzerland (in Japan).

We stopped in Kappa Bridge and enjoy the calmness on the river side. When it was low tide I could chill in the rocky area while eating Kamikochi’s soft ice cream. Time flies. Suddenly we realized that we spent hours in Kamikochi but feels like I don’t wanna leave Switzerland (in Japan).

@marischkaprue - ice cream and snow mountain is one of her fav combination

NOTES:

Where:

Kamikochi berada di Chubu Sangaku National Park, Matsumoto, Nagano, Jepang.

Kamikochi is located in Chubu Sangaku National Park, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.

to know: Kamikochi dibuka untuk umum pada akhir April hingga 15 November

Kamikochi is opened for public starts from the end of April to 15 November.

 

How to Get There

Matsumoto Access Map

Kamikochi Bus Terminal

Kamikochi dapat diakses dari Matsumoto atau Takayama

Dari Matsumoto: Naik kereta dari Matsumoto Station (Matsumoto Dentetsu Line, kereta pertama di pukul 6.35 pagi, kereta berikutnya ada dengan interval waktu sekitar 30 menit hingga 1 jam 20 menit). Turun di Shin-Shimashima Station dan dilanjutkan dengan naik bus ke Kamikochi Bus Terminal. Opsi lain naik bus (direct) dari Matsumoto Bus Terminal (bus berangkat pukul 10.15). Tiket Kamikochi Line dapat dibelu di Matsumoto Station (¥2.450 one way/ ¥4.550 PP). Waktu tempuh sekitar 1 jam 50 menit. Lihat jadwal bus di sini

Dari Takayama: Naik bus dari Takayama Bus Center (bus pertama pukul 7 pagi), transfer di Hirayu Onsen menuju Kamikochi Bus Terminal (¥2.730 one way/ ¥5.190 PP). Waktu tempuh sekitar 1 jam 40 menit.

ps: Japan Rail Pass tidak berlaku untuk rute Kamikochi Line

Kamikochi can be accessed from Matsumoto or Takayama

From Matsumoto: Take a train from Matsumoto Station (Matsumoto Denetsu Line, first train at 6:35 a.m., next train will arrive within 30mins to 1hr 20mins). Get off at Shin-Shimashima Station and continued by bus to Kamikochi Bus Terminal. Other option is by taking direct bus from Matsumoto Bus Terminal (departure at 10:15 a.m.). You can buy Kamikochi Line’s ticket at Matsumoto Station (¥2.450 one way / ¥4.550 return) for about 1hr 50mins. Check the bus schedule here!

From Takayama: Take a bus from Takayama Bus Center (first bus arrives at 7 a.m.), transfer at Hirayu Onsen to Kamikochi Bus Terminal (¥2.730 one way/¥5.190 return) for about 1 hr 40mins.

PS: Japan Rail Pass is not valid for Kamikochi Line route

 

Weather

Suhu di Kamikochi berkisar dari -5°C hingga sekitar 20°C. Namun Kamikochi hanya dibuka pada akhir April hingga November dengan suhu rata-rata: April 5°C, Mei 9°C, Juni 13°C, Juli 16°C, Agustus 18°C, September 14°C, Oktober 6°C, November 1°C.

Temperature range in Kamikochi is at -5°C to 20°C but Kamikochi only opened at the end of April to November with the average temperature: April 5°C, May 9°C, June 13°C, July 16°C, August 18°C, September 14°C, October 6°C, November 1°C.

Akomodasi

Terdapat 15 penginapan yang tersebar di Kamikochi dengan rate per malam mulai dari ¥8.000 hingga ¥116.400

15 inns available in Kamikochi with rate per night starts from ¥8.000 to ¥116.400

Kamonji Goya Lodge: ¥8.000/night. T: +81 263 952418

Tokusawa Lodge: ¥8.000 - ¥10.500/night. T: +81 263 95 2526

Taisyoike Hotel: ¥14.580 - ¥22.680/night. T: +81 263 952301

Kamikochi Imperial Hotel: ¥32.076 - ¥116.424/ night. T: +81 263 952001

More info about Kamikochi on their website here

More info about Matsumoto on their website here

Need information about Matsumoto?

contact: Teddy Yamaishi via yamaishi@matsumoto-tca.or.jp

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