Visitors will see this theme come to life as they approach the museum, island-like in its shape and flowing walls, and in the airy, light-filled galleries. It was designed by architect Takahashi Teiichi of Daiichi-Kobo Associates, who took great care to integrate the building into the surrounding landscape (designed by Studio On site). The museum is built around a central exhibition room which houses sculptures including those by the French sculptor François Pompon. The distinctive sloped ceiling and curved walls make the space feel more organic and complementary to the scenery outside. A 200-meter glass-walled hallway connects three more exhibition rooms, a cafe, and a museum shop to the central space, while a “Sculptor’s Studio” based on Pompon’s workshop was built in the Annex for people to get a glimpse of the kind of space wherein the artist would have created his animals. Pompon, whose sculptures are simple yet striking, created bronze birds of all kinds, a bronze black panther, and, of course, the famous marble polar bear, all of which are on display for visitors to see. The smooth lines tracing the shapes of the animals show a refinement and simplicity that weren’t commonly seen in animal sculpture in Pompon’s time. Nowadays, his novel and signature style blend in seamlessly with the museum itself, while celebrating the beauty of the natural world.

Artwork: François Pompon, Polar Bear (1923–33), marble. Collection of the Gunma Museum of Art, Tatebayashi.