A somewhat unusual show called “Art Aquarium” is on at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall (2-2-1 Nihonbashi-Muromachi, Chuo, Tokyo; Coredo Muromachi).
I do not follow the hard theory either, but if I say they make goldfish look beautiful, or turn tanks into art with goldfish, it may be a little clearer (it does not have to be goldfish, but goldfish seem many).
The concept is a fusion of “aquarium = tank” and “art.” Producer Kimura Hidetomo writes on his site profile that he “established an original field, Art Aquarium, combining protean tank design, high-level water chemistry, and thorough livestock care, and is the only one who holds paid museum shows using aquariums as art.”
Still half-understood… Well, just look at the real thing — it is overwhelmingly pretty!!
The Nihonbashi show began in 2011 as a special for the 100th anniversary of Nihonbashi’s rebuilding and is in its third year. This year’s theme is “Edo, the Cool of Goldfish”: goldfish that blossomed in the Edo period and became dear to Japanese, tanks designed on Japanese motifs, and the latest light and video — underwater art. The stars include familiar breeds such as wakin, demekin, and ryukin, luxury breeds such as jikin and tosakin, and living artworks such as rare, charming choten-gan and ping-pong pearls — about 5,000 fish. The title of the photo above is “Ooku”; the hall feels like the right-hand photos. This year’s highlight is “Kimono-rium,” embedding a top-class Kyo-Yuzen kimono in a tank and expressing the pattern with live goldfish and 3D projection mapping; the pattern changes moment by moment = photos below (I shot poorly, so I borrowed from various sites).
The show runs through Monday, September 23. 11:00–23:30 (last entry 23:00). From 19:00 it becomes “Night Aquarium,” with different music and lighting; you can enjoy it with a drink. Admission: general 1,000 yen, elementary and under 600 yen, age 3 and under free.
From Takebashi change to the Ginza Line; it is just in front of Mitsukoshimae Station exit A6. It is a bit far from the Hanzomon Line station, so be careful.