What this is
Collection Cinema is a special exhibition at Hakone Open Air Museum's Gallery 3, presented to mark the museum's 25th anniversary. The show brings together outstanding film works from the museum's recent acquisitions, offering a rare opportunity to experience moving-image art in a dedicated gallery setting. The first section features Christian Marclay's 'Doors,' a decade-long collage of door scenes drawn from films across multiple eras, edited into a seamless psychological labyrinth that plays with time, memory, and cinematic language. The second section presents Gerhard Richter's immersive 'Moving Picture (946-3) Kyoto Version,' a large-scale collaborative installation that combines Richter's signature abstract imagery with enveloping surround sound. Together, the two works represent a significant moment in the museum's collecting history and offer a compelling case for film as fine art.
Who should go
This exhibition is ideal for contemporary art enthusiasts, film lovers with an interest in experimental and conceptual work, and anyone curious about the intersection of cinema and visual art. Fans of Christian Marclay — known internationally for his landmark 24-hour video work 'The Clock' — will find 'Doors' a fascinating companion piece, while admirers of Gerhard Richter will appreciate the rare chance to experience one of his immersive moving-image installations in Japan. The intimate gallery setting makes it a thoughtful, unhurried experience suited to adults and older teenagers rather than young children. Combine your visit with the wider Hakone Open Air Museum grounds to make a full day of it.
Good to know
Admission to Collection Cinema in Gallery 3 is included with the standard Hakone Open Air Museum entry ticket, so no separate ticket is required — purchase at the main gate or in advance via the museum's official site. The museum accepts major credit cards including foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard at the ticket counter, though having some cash as backup is advisable. Gallery 3 is an indoor dedicated cinema and installation space, so the experience is self-contained and climate-controlled regardless of weather — a useful refuge on rainy Hakone days. Video and audio installations of this nature typically prohibit photography and recording inside the screening rooms, so check signage at the gallery entrance. Allow at least 30–45 minutes for the two works, and note that Marclay's 'Doors' runs as a looped collage so you can enter at any point.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.