kengo kito fills sou fujimoto-designed shiroiya hotel with 2,500 illuminated festive hula hoops

2,500 hula hoops illuminate art installation and christmas tree

to celebrate a year since the opening of the sou fujimoto-designed shiroiya hotel in maebashi, japan, the new art and culinary destination rolls in a festive installation created using 2,500 hula hoops. the art illumination, dubbed shiroiya x kengo kito, spirals from within the hotel’s entrance to decorate the four meter-tall christmas tree outside.

image © shinya kigure (main image too)

shiroiya x kengo kito

the bold installation by kengo kito uses 2,500 pieces of hula hoops in seven different yet highly vivid colors. the pop sculpture contrasts as it grows and expands through a 38m passage way of exposed concrete, which was designed by sou fujimoto with the aim of connecting locals and visitors at the shiroiya hotel to the surrounding city. as the result, the public artwork brightens the hearts of onlookers as a wonderful winter attraction.

image © shinya kigure

the use of everyday objects is a common theme throughout the work of contemporary artist kengo kito, who previously packed a gallery at hara museum ARC with over 1,300 similar circles. the material has been rolled over to decorate a 4m christmas tree, illuminated and placed outside the hotel.

2,500 differently colored hula hoops fill the 38m passage way at the hotel

image © shinya kigure

the architecture’s exposed concrete material contrasts with the popping color compositions of the artwork

image © shinya kigure

portrait of kengo kito

image © shiroiya hotel

project info:

hotel: shiroiya

art illumination: shiroiya x kengo kito

exhibition period: november 19 – december 26, 2021

illumination hours: 16:00 – 22:00

artist: kengo kito