"Octetra," by Noguchi Isamu. Scheduled to be on display again from spring 2011.
Approaching Art through the Five Senses
Art can sometimes seem difficult to understand. It's not always easy to know what a painting or sculpture is supposed to mean, even after you have seen it with your own eyes. But the gifts of imagination and creativity exist within us all. Being able to handle and play with works of art, rather than just looking at them, can bring children closer to art and inspire their creativity. In Japan there are many museums and art schools that allow children to experience art hands-on, up close and personal.
Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam Woods of Net Knitted Wonder Space 2009
One example is the "sculpture forest" at the Hakone Open-Air Museum, which includes several sculptures that children can play on. These include the "Woods of Net," created through a collaboration between an artist and a team of architects. The pavilion is made entirely of wood, using traditional techniques seen in Japanese temples. A huge, brightly colored net hangs down from the middle of the pavilion like a giant hammock. Children clamber up into the netting, swinging in the breeze and enjoying glimpses of the sky and trees through the gaps in the wooden slats of the pavilion. The netting makes a great setting for games of tag , with children racing and chasing each other from one colored section of the netting to another. Underneath the netting, knitted balls hang down like swings, where children soar through the air and yell out to their friends. The "Woods of Net" pavilion is a fun way for kids to develop their sense of balance and appreciation of colors.
Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam Woods of Net Knitted Wonder Space 2009