YUNOTSU ↔ MINETT
From Silver to Steel
A Dialogue Between Two UNESCO Mining Landscapes
Project Summary
Initiated in Luxembourg by Elsewhere Gallery and Kimonococoro and developed by Echoes of Japan ASBL as part of the 24 SETSU – Twenty-Four Seasons of Connection programme, Yunotsu ↔ Minett is an artistic research and cultural exchange project exploring the shared histories of two former mining territories: Yunotsu and the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine in Japan, and the Minett region of Luxembourg.
Although separated by more than 9,000 kilometres, these landscapes share remarkable parallels. Both were shaped by the extraction of natural resources, both transformed national economies, and both are now redefining themselves through heritage, culture and community.
Rather than presenting history as a static archive, the project asks a contemporary question:
How can former industrial landscapes become living cultural ecosystems once again?
Through artistic research, photography, interviews, mapping, installations and public programmes, the project seeks to create a dialogue between two regions whose stories have never before been connected.
Why Yunotsu and Minett?
The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was once one of the world’s most productive silver mines, supporting an entire network of villages, ports and communities. Today, Yunotsu has become a quiet town of only a few hundred residents, yet continues to preserve remarkable examples of living heritage, traditional architecture and community resilience.
The Minett region followed a similar trajectory. Iron and steel transformed Luxembourg into an industrial nation before the decline of mining reshaped the region. Today, Minett is internationally recognised for its cultural regeneration, industrial heritage and evolving identity.
Both territories demonstrate that heritage is not simply about preserving buildings—it is about preserving knowledge, memory, craftsmanship and ways of living.
This project proposes the first artistic dialogue between these two UNESCO landscapes.
Why Now?
The project is developed as part of the celebrations marking 100 years of diplomatic relations between Luxembourg and Japan in 2027.
Rather than commemorating this anniversary through a single cultural event, 24 SETSU proposes a year-long programme exploring six cultural fields through contemporary collaborations between Japan and Luxembourg.
Yunotsu ↔ Minett becomes the opening research project of the 24 SETSU ART programme, demonstrating how cultural heritage can inspire future international cooperation through artistic creation, research and public engagement.