Footrest by Isamu Noguchi, 1946

An extremely diverse and multi-faceted artist, Isamu Noguchi saw no distinction
between fine and applied arts. He successfully synthesized art and design, and
East and West, with a passionately innovative vision. Born in Los Angeles, raised
as a boy in Japan, then schooled in the U.S., Noguchi's mother encouraged him to
pursue a life in the arts. Making his way to Paris in 1927, he became an apprentice
to the master abstract sculptor Constantin Brancusi. It was there, in Brancusi's
studio, that Noguchi's predisposition for simple forms and love of natural materials
and tools, which he had discovered as a child in Japan, found expression. His time
spent in countries throughout Europe and Asia influenced his aesthetic, and his work,
in turn influenced the organic design language of the 1950s. During his career, which
spanned seven decades, Noguchi worked in many materials, including stone, wood,
paper, water, and light. He drew inspiration from the tension of opposing concepts -
Asia and the West, the ancient and the modern, the practical and the utopian, social
engagement and personal isolation. Noguchi's creations, including sculptures, furniture,
lighting, public spaces, and gardens all reflect the rich cultural and philosophical
influences he embraced throughout his prolific career.