Ohara Museum of Art, a cultural facility that Kurashiki is proud of.
Directly in front of it, there is a building characterized by its green tiled roof. The name of the building is Yurin-so Villa.
It is usually not open to the public, but it will be specially opened in spring and autumn of 2025.
Due to renovation work, the special opening was canceled in 2024, making this the first special opening since October 2023.
The title of the special opening of Yurin-so Villa in spring 2025 is "Welcome to Yurin-so! Hospitality with Contemporary Art." I went to check it out.
Photography is usually prohibited inside Yurin-so Villa. This time, we have received special permission to take photos.
What is "Yurin-so"?
Yurin-so Villa is the former villa of the Ohara family, completed in 1928.
The main residence is now known as Ohara House Katalyzer, which has been a historically significant building since that time, but it was said to be difficult to have a family-only living space as it allowed entry from anywhere.
Therefore, Ohara Magosaburo was considerate of his wife, Sueko, and commissioned the construction of a "Western-style residence" to serve as a home for the family.
As a result, the initially domestic Western-style residence was transformed into a "full-fledged residence" with the function of a "guesthouse," which did not exist in Kurashiki at the time, featuring a large entertainment room and a large-scale Japanese architectural style.
This is the current Yurin-so Villa.
However, nearly 100 years have passed since its construction, and signs of aging have become noticeable. Therefore, renovation work will be carried out in 2024, and it is said that the walls, ceilings, tatami mats, and gutters will be repaired while maintaining the appearance of the time as much as possible.
Special Opening of Yurin-so Villa in Spring 2025: "Welcome to Yurin-so! Hospitality with Contemporary Art"
The special opening of Yurin-so Villa in spring 2025 is titled "Welcome to Yurin-so! Hospitality with Contemporary Art," showcasing the renovated Yurin-so Villa and exhibiting works by contemporary artists.
Additionally, this time, in conjunction with the Setouchi International Art Festival 2025, it is participating in the Setouchi Art Museum Collaborative Project, resulting in a longer exhibition period than usual.
The special openings since 2019 are summarized below.
Tap to display
From spring 2020 to spring 2022, the special openings were canceled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Exhibited Works
The exhibited works are as follows.
- Fukuda Miran: "Monet's Water Lilies"
- Fukuda Miran: "Colorful Millet Pattern Square Plate with Sparrows"
*As a unit work combined with Tomimoto Kenkichi's "Colorful Millet Pattern Square Plate" - Fukuda Miran: "Wine from a Horse-shaped Pot"
*As a unit work combined with an Iranian "Horse-shaped Pot" - Iba Yasuko: "UNTITLED"
*Two pieces in the Western-style room - Ozawa Go: "Vegetable Weapon—Barazushi/Kurashiki"
*Photo and recipe board - Aida Makoto: "Ai-chan Bonsai (Pine)"
- Aida Makoto: "Ai-chan Bonsai (Pine) in the Garden"
- Fukuda Miran: "Sesshu's 'Landscape'"
- Watanabe Osamu: "Sanctuary—White Swan"
- Fukuda Miran: "Tiles and Bamboo of Yurin-so Villa"
- Iba Yasuko: "UNTITLED"
*One piece in the Japanese-style room
Venue Overview
Now, let me briefly introduce the venue with a focus on photos.
It is said that Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" was displayed when Yurin-so Villa was built
Conclusion
Yuri Hasegawa, a curator from the Ohara Art Foundation who was in charge of the project, spoke as follows.
The special exhibition of Yurin-so Villa in spring 2025 will be held from April 18 (Friday) to May 11 (Sunday).
Furthermore, due to the "Setouchi Triennale Museum Collaboration Project," the schedule for the special opening in autumn has already been announced.
Special Opening of Yurin-so Villa in Autumn 2025: Taisuke Morimura Exhibition (tentative)
October 7 (Tuesday) to November 9 (Sunday)
It seems that you can enter once with a common passport for the Setouchi International Art Festival 2025, so contemporary art fans who visit Setouchi, as well as those who want to see the beautifully renovated Yurin-so Villa, should definitely come and visit.
Articles about Yurin-so Villa
Data for the Spring 2025 Special Opening of Yurin-so Villa: Welcome to Yurin-so Villa! Hospitality with Contemporary Art
| Name | Spring 2025 Special Opening of Yurin-so Villa: Welcome to Yurin-so Villa! Hospitality with Contemporary Art |
|---|---|
| Dates | From April 18 (Friday) to May 11 (Sunday), 2025 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM * Last entry at 3:30 PM * Open every day during the exhibition |
| Location | 1-3-18 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Admission Fee (including tax) | [Yurin-so Villa Admission Fee] General: 1,000 yen High school, middle school, and elementary school students (under 18): 500 yen [Set Ticket] * Admission to both Yurin-so Villa and Ohara Museum of Art General: 2,500 yen High school, middle school, and elementary school students (under 18): 1,000 yen |
| Website | Spring 2025 Special Opening of Yurin-so Villa: Welcome to Yurin-so Villa! Hospitality with Contemporary Art |
This time, we are exhibiting works in the Western-style room, dining room, and Japanese-style room on the 1st and 2nd floors.
We expressed the characteristics of each room through the exhibited works. For example, in the Western-style room, there are works that evoke meals, such as teacups, and works that pay homage to pieces that were displayed at the time of construction.
I hope you enjoy the characteristics of each room while also enjoying contemporary works.
Additionally, this is the first public opening after renovation work was completed last year (2024), so please take a look at the appearance of Yurin-so Villa and the interior.