Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988)

Schermafbeelding 2018-12-30 om 16.27.09

One of the greatest sculptors from last century for me is Isamu Noguchi. The reason is simple i have been living for half of my life with designs of Noguchi around me. I have sold lamps and stools by the artist and in our own home a stool is ever present in our interior. The sculptures are different . In many cases executed on a scale to large to place inside and nowadays far too expensive for almost all. But sometimes you can exprience the quality of Noguchi as a sculptor in a simple publication. This is the case with the Pace Wildenstein publications which has al the qualities you are looking for in a Noguchi work. enjoy the photo’s. Publication is available at www.ftn-books.com

noguchi pace a

Here is the text on the artist from THE ART STORY

Isamu Noguchi, a major American and Japanese sculptor and designer, spent over six decades creating abstract works – largely in stone – based on both organic and geometric forms. Greatly inspired by traditional Japanese art, as well as by the biomorphic style of some Surrealist art, Noguchi became internationally known both for his artwork and his publicly accessible furniture and architecture. His ultimate objective, to create and enhance public spaces through sculpture, provided his career with a distinct direction and established him as a critical figure in the worlds of post-war art, architecture and design.

The overarching concept informing Noguchi’s work was his passionate, career-long desire to create art the public could use in a social space. He realized this goal in myriad ways: mass produced furniture and lamps; theatrical set designs; public projects such as gardens, playgrounds and fountains; and sculptural manipulations of the natural landscape.

Noguchi wanted to call attention to the dichotomies inherent in much of his work: he merged geometric and organic forms, found value in both positive and negative space, and created works that challenged the boundaries of design and art. He also integrated the materials and art forms of both his Japanese and American heritages into his innovative creations.

Noguchi was socially and artistically connected to Abstract Expressionism, as evident not only in his large-scale works evoking abstracted forms but also in his friendships with Arshile Gorky and Willem de Kooning. Yet, his sculpture retained a distinct sensibility in its use of natural materials and its distinct blend of Surrealist and Japanese influence.

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