iReport: Giant outdoor sculptures make a stunning Tokyo daytrip
In a recent CNNGo iReport assignment, we asked readers to share their photos of Tokyo’s oddest museums.
Joanne Huang, of Taiwan, sent us these images from her trip to an intriguing outdoor museum near the town of Hakone, a train ride west of the capital. Here's her account of the visit.
Tokyo weekender
These sculptures are displayed in the Hakone Open-Air Museum, located in Kanagawa Prefecture. I was studying my undergrad in Tokyo when I took this hot-spring weekend trip to Hakone with my sister.
We looked up some recommended sightseeing spots before we left for Hakone, and decided to spend a few hours at this open-air museum. It was quite close to the onsen ryokan where we were staying -- Gorakadan.
The Mourner
The first piece is “La Pleureuse” (“The Mourner”) by French sculptors Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne and was created in 1986 using Trani stone.
It's hard to not be captivated by this masterpiece due to its sheer size and presence. It's a woman’s head, with foliage as her hair, lying with her right cheek on the marbled fountain underneath.
If you look closely, you can see clear tears streaming down her face and into the fountain. A very powerful image that’s hard to forget.
Miss Black Power
The second is "Miss Black Power" by another French sculptor, Niki de Saint Phalle, which she finished in 1968.
I find its disproportionate head and body quite odd but interesting to look at; the dress and polka-dot bag add a more feminine touch to this gigantic masterpiece.
This Hakone Open-Air Museum is very special and memorable, mostly because of its vast outdoor area dedicated to showcasing more than 100 large contemporary sculptures, including works by artists such as Rodin, Miro and Moore.
Picasso and more
The museum also houses a special Picasso pavilion, with some 300 art works that he created, including ceramics, paintings, tapestries and sculptures.
Another interesting site within the museum is a footbath corner, where guests can dip their feet into a natural hot spring that is well-known in the Hakone area.
After a long walk around the outdoor exhibition park, a soothing and relaxing footbath is exactly what’s needed.
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