Thread: Happy Birthday Isamu Noguchi (1904-88). He was a Japanese-American artist, sculptor, landscapist & designer whose work continues to be influential. His integration of Western & Eastern art movements to create organically satisfying objects was unrivalled 
Born in LA, he travelled with his mother to Yokohama (1906) where he was named Isamu (Courage). By 1912 they were in Chigasaki where the youth oversaw the building of their house & he was apprenticed to a carpenter.
Here’s an overview of own work. I have a buy one get one free until 14th December - take a look!
https://twitter.com/robertbohan/status/1328789756331880451
1918 saw him sent to Indiana. During his education he was known as Sam Gilmour. He was apprenticed to the artist behind the Mt Rushmore sculptures. He started medicine in Columbia U (1922). In 1924 he started art night classes & became an artist. Nuska (1924) & Boulton (1925)
In his early years as an artist he was fascinated with the Avant-Garde (Stieglitz & Brâncusi were of interest). In 1926 he was awarded a Fellowship. He travelled to Paris (1927). Undine (1926), Recreation of his Paris Studio (1927), Paris Abstraction (1928) & Leda (1928)
In Paris he became Brâncusi’s assistant. He also befriended Pascin, Calder & Breker. He returned to NY in 1929, where he had a one man show. He left aside abstract work for busts to pay for travel. Globular (1928), Edla Frankau (1929), Gershwin (1929) & Buckminster Fuller (1929)
He went to Paris in 1930 & then Beijing where he learnt brush painting from Qi Baishi & Kyoto where he studied pottery under Uno Jinmatsu. Mother & Child (1930), Figure (1930), Abstract (1930) & Untitled (1930)
Back in the US he had a one man exhibit (1932). From 1934 he was submitting designs to the PWA with little success. He was in Mexico where he found work (1936) & made friends with Frida Kahlo. Uncle (1931), Girl (1931), Miss Expanding Universe (1932) & Kitchen Timer (1932)
Death Lynched - which was about the lynching of Black men - met with outrage when he exhibited it. Play Mountain (1933), Contoured Playground (1933), Death, Lynched Figure (1934) & Stage Set for Martha Graham (1935)
1937 saw him design the Zenith Radio Nurse, which was his 1st design commission. In 1939 he created News which was unveiled at the Rockefeller Centre (1940). History Mexico (1936), Radio Nurse (1937), News (1940) & Goodyear Table (1939)
In 1942 he was voluntarily at the Poston Camp of interned Japanese-Americans. He left but was accused of being a spy; only being vindicated as innocent thru the help of the ACLU. He went to NY. Contoured Playground (1941), Table (1941), Self-Interned (1942) & Leda (1942)
He focused on sculpture & surrealism in the ‘40s as well as working with Herman Miller to design legendary furniture. Untitled (1943), Vitra Coffee Table (1944), Table Lamp (1944) & Mother & Child (1944-7)
He also designed sets for Martha Graham & worked with Knoll Furniture Company. Strange Bird (1945), Noguchi (1941), Freeform Sofa (1945) & Humpty Dumpty (1946). For me Strange Bird is one of his greatest works in that it is organically satisfying but also has a sense of humour
In the following years his reputation increased. He continued to design sets & create sculptures. Noguchi by Newman (1947), Shop Coffee Table (1948), Rudder Table (c1949) & Table (1948-9). His coffee table is a design classic
He was a great designer in that he treated an object as a sculpture whether it was or not. Thus organic forms morph into domestic furniture. My Mu, Watashi No Mu (1950), Vita Akari Light Sculptures (1951), Lonely Tower (1952) & Cyclone Table (1953)
I really love the quiet audacity of these 4 works. Each is held up for us to consider with a serene vision & sense of authenticity. Noguchi was a genius of contemplation. The Self (1956), Okame (1956), Atomic Head (1957) & the Kite (1959)
He managed to creat new & exciting forms which due to their organic shapes look as if they have always existed. The Cry (1959), Shodo Flowing (1960-2), Pink Jizo (1960) & Sunken Garden (1964)
Noguchi’s Sculpture is a superb lesson in balance & weight. Tetsubin (1961), Stone of Spiritual Understanding (1962), Gift (1964) & Indian Dancer (1965-6)
He was elected a member (1962) & a fellow (1971) of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Slide Mantra (1966-85), Grey Sun (1967), Red Cube (1968) & Skyviewing Sculpture (1969)
By the 1970s he was able to create monumental forms - using them to great effect. Fountain, Osaka (1970), Energy Void (1971), Zwillingsplastik (1972) & Great Rock of Inner Seeking (1974)
Noguchi included a sense of fun with his work - particularly with his playgrounds & in some sculptures. Play Sculpture (1975), Playscapes (1976), Horace Dodge & Son Memorial Fountain (1978) & Sculpture Garden (1980-2)
In 1986 he represented the US at the Venice Biennale showing Akari light sculptures. A year later he was awarded the National Medal of Arts. Rain Mountain (1983), Ends (1985), Akari (1986) & Untitled Work (1987)
Noguchi died in 1988, aged 84, celebrated for his sculpture, his designs & his meditative gardens. His organic forms, serenity & sense of balance are remarkable. He was one of the key influential designers of the 20th C.
My goal with my Affordable Art Project is to bring original artwork into everyone’s’ home. With that in mind. I reduced my dealer’s price from €700 to €149. And now when you buy one you can choose a second free!
https://twitter.com/robertbohan/status/1328789756331880451
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
