Step onto the island of Inujima in this virtual exhibition which explores how an extraordinary living art project is transforming the island’s landscape and the lives of its inhabitants. This exhibition originally took place at Japan House London from May–September 2022.

Exploring the virtual exhibition
  • Starting with the Yellow Flower Dream installation on the Ground Floor, you can then head downstairs to explore the Gallery.
  • You can hop between exhibits using the circular portals on the floor.
  • The camera icons will show you the images up close, while the information icons will tell you more about the exhibits.
  • To immerse yourself in this exhibition, click on the full screen icon on the top right-hand corner of the tour.

The creation of this virtual exhibition is supported by JTI UK.

About Symbiosis: Living Island

For the past 13 years, the tiny island of Inujima in the Seto Inland Sea has been host to the Inujima ‘Art House Project’, an innovative scheme bringing together artists with the local population.

The aim of the project is to use art, pavilions and creative projects to breathe life back into an island with a diminishing population, ensuring its future and enriching the lives of its inhabitants.

Central to the project is the concept of ‘symbiosis’ – the interaction between nature and architecture – with the installations, buildings and works of art created as part of the project being inextricably linked with their surroundings.

Guests to the exhibition (originally held in Japan House London from May to September 2022) were able to follow a journey around the island, taking in architectural models of the pavilions featuring the artists’ works, photography and videos, and testimonies from residents on the transformative impact of the project on their lives. 

The exhibition was curated by the Inujima ‘Art House Project’ artistic director Hasegawa Yuko, Director of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art of Kanazawa, alongside internationally renowned architect Sejima Kazuyo, a founding member of the SANAA office and winner of the Pritzker award in 2010.