Skyviewing Sculpture

Sculpture Created by Noguchi Isamu

         In Red Square at Western Washington University there is a sculpture called Skyviewing Sculpture created by Noguchi Isamu.  At first the Skyviewing Sculpture may seem a little eccentric.  As you investigate the sculpture it starts to make a little more sense.

How to view the Skyviewing Sculpture?

The Sculpture’s design may look a little out of the ordinary when you first glance at the piece.  This piece was not designed to just be glanced at from afar.  This piece requires you to be an engaged participate.  With this sculpture you do not get the full experience of the artwork if you look at it from a distance.  You must venture into its interior to get the full understanding of the artist’s intent.

Intent of Artist

The artist wanted to connect people to the Earth.  The viewer does have to interact and become the missing puzzle piece to understand the piece. Through this interaction you come one the sculpture and with the Earth.

Symbolism

The Skyviewing Sculpture utilizes lots of symbolism.  Noguchi Isamu takes plenty of inspiration from his Japanese heritage.  He does this by using a Japanese symbol throughout the piece.  The circles or holes in the sculpture are actually the symbol for creation in Japan.

History

According to the plague of the Skyviewing Sculpture the piece was created in 1968; however, most research indicates that the sculpture was created in 1969.  The sculpture has deep roots in the Japanese culture.

He was born to a Japanese father and an Irish American mother.  Growing up he felt stuck between two different cultures.  After his parents’ separation, Noguchi Isamu moved to Japan in 1906 as a kid with his mother.  While in school in Japan he gained an appreciation of landscapes which will eventually help him later on in his career.

Even though Noguchi Isamu has many artistic talents including, but limited to sculpting, design, and architecture, he originally moved to New York to go to become a doctor.  While attending Columbia University he still took art courses on the side.  He decided to drop out of college to start his art career.

Art career

After he left University he opened his own art studio in New York.  He was even granted the Guggenheim Fellowship so he could study in France under modern artist, Constantin Brancusi.  In 1923 he moved back to the United States were his art was not widely accepted.

Another notable work by Noguchi Isamu is The Well (1982).  The Well is fairly similar in style of the Skyviewing Sculpture.  The Well has roots in the Japanese culture as the Skyviewing Sculpture does.  The Well however is completely made from stone. This piece is located in the Noguchi Museum in New York.

Credits:

Stephanie Munro, Rhapsody Farrell, and Rahman Barika

Project Credit:

Text, Research, and Page Admin: Stephanie Munro

Video and Photo Production: Rhapsody Farrell and Rahman Barika

Video and Photo Editor: Rhapsody Farrell

Music:

I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside (1907, piano roll) by John H. Glover-Kind courtesy of Kazoomzoom.

Research References:

“About Isamu Noguchi.” PBS. PBS, 03 Jan. 2001. Web. 09 Oct. 2016.

Isamu Noguchi Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works.” The Art Story. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2016.

The Art Story.org – Your Guide to Modern Art.” The Art Story: Modern Art Movement Timeline. N.p., 2016. Web. 09 Oct. 2016

WWU’s Outdoor Sculpture Collection Turns 50.” Fall/Winter 2015. Western Washington University, 2015. Web. 09 Oct. 2016.