3,000 seawater stacked glass volumes by toshihiro komatsu

sea room occupies the shoreline with seawater stacked volumes
all images courtesy of toshihiro komatsu

a transparent wall comprised of approximately 3000 glass canisters filled with seawater from the seto inland sea occupies the shoreline of takami island in kagawa, japan. the immersive pavilion by japanese artist toshihiro komatsu is ‘sea room’, a facade of stacked water-saturated volumes that translate as a towering glass block. the installation’s irregular shape delineates the silhouette of takami island, its twisting profile and curved corners creating a horseshoe-like form that visitors can enter and survey inside. komatsu‘s hope for the sculptural work is to draw attention to the seto inland sea — an instrumental and precious natural resource for its inhabitants — by altering the water’s traditional perception and purpose into a matter that can be viewed through a glass lens. ‘sea room’ was recently exhibited for the setouchi international art festival 2013.

a woman and child inside the ‘sea room’

the shape of the pavilion distillates the outline of takami island

approximately 3,000 stacked water-filled volumes made up the form 

the immersive work at the shoreline of takami island in kagawa, japan

looking through the glass canisters adds a novel perspective to the seawater, reinterpreting its purpose

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