Tatsuo Miyajima and Naoshima — Where Time Flickers Beneath the Surface
Naoshima, a small island floating in the Seto Inland Sea, is often described as the “art island.” Here, cutting-edge contemporary artworks coexist with nature, old villages, and the rhythms of island life. Among the many works that have shaped Naoshima’s identity, one stands out for its philosophical depth and quiet beauty:
“Sea of Time ’98” by Tatsuo Miyajima.
This installation doesn’t merely present art—it immerses visitors in a meditation on time, life, and the individual rhythms that make up a community.
Beneath the Floorboards, Time Glows Softly
Soruce:| 宮島達男スタジオ Sea of time98 直島「角屋」 撮影 上野則宏 1998
In the Honmura district, the Kadoya house is one of the first buildings renovated as part of the Art House Project—an initiative that transforms old vacant homes into contemporary artworks. Inside this traditional wooden house, Miyajima created Sea of Time ’98, an installation of 125 small LED counters embedded in shallow pools of water. Each counter quietly flashes numbers from 1 to 9, skipping zero, before beginning again.
This flickering glow in the darkened room resembles a digital heartbeat—an ethereal rhythm that echoes something deep and eternal. But the most remarkable part lies beneath the surface: each LED flashes at a different speed, determined by Naoshima’s residents themselves.
A Work Created With the Community
Source:TADORI
Rather than approaching the project as a solitary artist, Miyajima engaged with the people of Naoshima. He asked them to choose the speed at which “their” LED would count. Some move quickly, others very slowly.
The result is a symphony of personal rhythms—an ecosystem of time within a single space.This collaboration turned Sea of Time ’98 into something more than an installation.
It became a mirror of community, where individuality and coexistence are equally honored. The piece reflects how each life runs on its own tempo, yet all are connected within a larger, shared cycle.
Miyajima’s concept—visualizing time as a living, breathing entity—transcends aesthetics. It’s not a work to simply be “seen.” It’s one to experience.
Time, Death, Rebirth: Miyajima’s Lifelong Themes
Source:島民と作り上げるアート――宮島達男「角屋」”Sea of Time ’98 ” | ブログ | ベネッセアートサイト直島
1998年2月、”Sea of Time ’98 ” 制作中の宮島氏 上野則宏 1998
Since the late 1980s, Tatsuo Miyajima has been exploring time, life, and death through digital counters. His works use technology not to emphasize progress, but to slow us down, to help us contemplate mortality and the flow of existence.
Naoshima, with its tranquil pace and human-scale community, feels like the perfect home for his art. Here, time is not measured by the clock, but by seasons, tides, and daily life. Miyajima’s LED counters don’t measure efficiency—they echo life itself, subtly flickering beneath still water like memories or silent prayers.
This philosophical alignment between artist and place makes Sea of Time ’98 one of Naoshima’s most spiritually resonant works.
From Seeing to Feeling
Surce:島民と作り上げるアート――宮島達男「角屋」”Sea of Time ’98 ” | ブログ | ベネッセアートサイト直島
宮島達男 家プロジェクト「角屋」＂Sea of Time ’98＂ 撮影：鈴木研一
Walking into Kadoya is like entering another world. The interior is dark. There are no windows open to the outside. Instead, your eyes slowly adjust to the dim glow of red, green, and blue numbers reflected in rippling water.
No sound. No movement—except the tiny flickers of time itself.Visitors often find themselves slowing down, breathing more deeply, becoming aware of their own inner rhythms. It’s not about interpretation—it’s about presence.
The simplicity of the numbers, the water, and the light creates a sensory silence that invites deep reflection. In a world overflowing with images and noise, this stillness is its own kind of revelation.
A Sea of Lives
Source:Tatsuo Miyajima’s ‘Art in You’ reinforces the inevitability of the state of flux
Tatsuo Miyajima with the installation Mega Death 1999/2016Image: Anna Kučera
Each LED in Sea of Time ’98 represents a person—each with their own rhythm, their own story. Together, they form a sea of light, quietly pulsing beneath the surface of a restored wooden house.
This poetic vision speaks not only to the people of Naoshima, but to anyone seeking meaning in the fleeting nature of life.It is also a reminder: we are not alone. We move at different paces, but we share this time together.
Where Art Becomes a Meditation
If you visit Naoshima, make time for Kadoya. Unlike many other installations, this one does not ask for your interpretation or knowledge of art history. It asks only for your presence—and in return, it offers something profound.
Sea of Time ’98 continues to count, flicker, reflect. Even as you leave the room, it remains there, quietly ticking on—a soft pulse in the heart of the island, a meditation on time that never ends.
About Our Tour called “Finding Naoshima Tour”
We also offer guided tours of Naoshima called “Finding Naoshima Tour”, a private tour service led by locals born and raised on Naoshima.
With deep roots in the island, we share Naoshima’s unique history, rich culture, and breathtaking scenery from a local perspective.
Whether it’s hidden photo spots, stories behind the artworks, or the charm of island life, we guide you through it all.
Each tour is fully private, allowing for a personalized and relaxed experience at your own pace.
Let us show you the real Naoshima—beyond the museums and into its heart.