Isamu Noguchi

Metal the Mirror

“Here where finally opposites come together, I see a surprising purity. Stone is the depth, metal the mirror. They do not conflict...” 

From 1982 to 1983, Isamu Noguchi created a series of twenty-six galvanized steel sculptures, each referencing his artistic interests and practices throughout his life. These works were dipped into boiling zinc, creating surfaces that resemble rocks in a stream or layers of skin. As the steel patinas, the sculptures will continue to change over time.

This exhibition aims to provide multiple experiences for visitors. On one hand, Metal the Mirror is an immersive entry point for those unfamiliar with Noguchi and his work. On the other, it will act as a site of renewal for already-acquainted visitors, who can encounter themes of duality embodied by the objects. The polished surfaces of the steel sculptures cast reflections between each other, intertwining objects, spaces, and people into a connected network of mirrors.