YOSHI NISHI’s Permanent Installation at Ōya Grand Center Merges Stone, Light, and Sound

Tokyo-based artist YOSHI NISHI, also known as YOSHIROTTEN, has unveiled a permanent installation at Ōya Grand Center in Tochigi, Japan. The work, part of his Future Nature series, includes pieces titled Oya Ishikei and Transtone. Nishi used photography and handheld scanning to capture the Ōya stone’s distinctive holes and patterns, converting them into digital drawings that were projected onto the raw rock surface of a former bathhouse. The 30-minute audiovisual loop is accompanied by field recordings. The installation preserves a window framing views of the town and mountains, keeping the space connected to the outside. Nishi, raised in Kagoshima amid volcanic landscapes, has shown at Kirishima Open-air Museum and MUFG Stadium, and collaborated with brands such as JAGUAR, Hermès, and Nike. The project was inspired by the history of Ōya stone, which has been used in iconic architecture across Japan, and by the site’s former quarry environment, including plans for an underground city. Nishi emphasized the importance of onsite fieldwork and the Japanese concept of ichigo ichie—the uniqueness of each moment.