Hello everyone, this is Lai.
Among all the islands featured in the Setouchi Triennale, Ōshima is perhaps the most
easily overlooked. Unlike others known for vibrant art and culture, Ōshima carries a
painful legacy—a past shaped by misguided policies that deeply affected the lives of
its residents.
Ōshima was once home to one of Japan’s leprosy sanatoriums. At the time, the
disease was believed to be incurable and highly contagious. Until the abolition of
Japan’s Leprosy Prevention Law in 1996, patients who arrived on Ōshima were
forcibly confined, never to return to their hometowns.
Today, with the help of art, the island is transforming into an open classroom—a
space where history is remembered, and the truth of this disease is shared through
the Setouchi Triennale. Each artwork tells the stories of the island’s residents and
the weight of the past they carried.
Upon stepping onto Ōshima, you’ll immediately notice the thick white lines on the
ground and the speakers playing music at corners—these were originally installed to
help patients with impaired vision navigate the island.
The Lovers’ Path: From Separation to Understanding and
Connection
This work is not just an artwork—it’s a real path co-created by artist Tomoko
Konoike and local residents. For those who have lived their entire lives here, it was
once their only option for climbing the hills and looking out at the world beyond.
Along the way, small wooden signposts record the thoughts and feelings of residents
from that time. As you walk this modest trail, which takes less than an hour to
complete, you can almost feel the longing of those who gazed out at the sea—a
symbol of freedom they could never reach. That helplessness, etched into every
word, still lingers in the air.
Life of N: 70 years on Oshima – A Room with a Wooden Pot:
Quietly Recreating a 70-Year Life
This was the most powerful work I encountered on the island. Based on the real life
of a resident who spent over 70 years at the sanatorium, this installation by artists
Rintaro and Yu Origuchi uses vibrant colors and papier-mâché to guide visitors
through N’s stages of life.Each room reflects a different period, with short texts in corners that reveal N’s inner feelings at the time. The weight of his emotions cuts through the delicate
paper and seeps into your chest—an overwhelming, quiet sorrow. Though the
artwork uses soft textures and colors, the stories it tells are ones of lifelong isolation
and silent pain.
Ōshima is not a sightseeing destination in the conventional sense. But here, art is
inseparable from history and everyday life. Each work is like a letter from the past—
teaching us how to face trauma through art, how to remember with compassion,
and how to gently speak with the future.
If you are ready to listen and to feel with an open heart, Ōshima might become one
of the most unforgettable stops on your journey.
2025/5 Lai
