Marugame, Kagawa 763-0022
Japan
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10am–6pm
Opened in 1991, over 30 years in operation
MIMOCA opened on its site in front of JR Marugame Station on November 23, 1991. Staying true to Genichiro Inokuma’s wish for a contemporary art museum dedicated to the new artistic expression of the moment, MIMOCA offers a variety of exhibitions and programs, including a permanent exhibition primarily of work by Inokuma, special exhibitions with a contemporary art focus, and workshops for children.
Housing 20,000 works by Genichiro Inokuma
Home to around 20,000 paintings, drawings and other works by Genichiro Inokuma (1902-1993), MIMOCA covers Inokuma’s life and career with incredible breadth and depth through its permanent and special exhibitions, plus a diverse range of resources from the tiny works Inokuma dubbed Dialogue Sculptures, to items he and his wife collected around the world and made part of their daily lives.
As a museum specializing in contemporary art
MIMOCA presents exhibitions of work by both Japanese and international artists, with a focus on contemporary art. To date this has included solo exhibitions devoted to the work of, among others, Jan Fabre, Marina Abramović, Marlene Dumas, Ernesto Neto, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Chiharu Shiota, Takashi Homma, and Miyako Ishiuchi. The museum is also proactive in showcasing emerging artists such as Teppei Kaneuji, Takehito Koganezawa, Rieko Shiga, and Koji Nakazono, and in recent years launched the MIMOCA EYE open-call exhibition aimed at young artists. Casting its gaze even wider to contemporary creative expression, the museum also covers fashion and furniture design, and contemporary architecture.
Stunning architecture designed by Yoshio Taniguchi
The MIMOCA building was the work of Yoshio Taniguchi, a highly-regarded designer of multiple art museums. His dialogue with Inokuma resulted in a building that embodies the ideals of both artist and architect, down to the smallest detail. The expansive facade featuring Genichiro Inokumaʼs massive, eye-catching mural Creation Plaza loosely connects station frontage and building. Entering the museum, one finds a wide, open space suffused with natural light. On the second floor are two galleries of contrasting size, then on the third, a generously proportioned exhibition space with a ceiling height of over seven meters. The large staircase at left front of the building connects to a public space that allows diverse approaches to the creation and display of art. The second-floor art center is equipped with a library, hall and studio, while the Cascade Plaza and cafe at the rear of the third floor also offer pleasant ways to pass the time.
Access to MIMOCA: Click here
