january 2021
Last week, during a brief stay in New York City, I just had to drop by the Noguchi Museum, a Japanese sculptural safe-haven located in Queens, NY. Founded and designed by the late influential sculptor, Isamu Noguchi, the name-sake museum preserves and beautifully displays Noguchi's sculptural legacy, including his architectural models, stage designs, and furniture designs.
I actually discovered the Noguchi Museum about two years ago, while frolicking about the city with a friend during a sponsored school trip. While searching for things to do in the area, we located this hidden gem that was just about 10 mins away and hurried over. I've been reminiscing about our last visit for the past two years and impatiently awaiting my next trip to the city, just so I could visit a second time. So when I finally found myself, yet again, just about 15 mins down the road, I just had tooo!!!
And of course, the Noguchi did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed their current ‘Futura Akari’ exhibition. This exhibition features a curation of Akari light sculptures designed by Isamu Noguchi throughout the span of his career (c. 1952-86) and hand-painted by American graffiti pioneer, FUTURA2000, in 2020.
Futura is an influential graffiti writer and contemporary artist known as early as the 1970s for his radical approach to street art. Futura, like Noguchi, has unapologetically crossed boundaries and created DOPE radical work, using various mediums, including canvas, paper, sculpture, photography, graphic design, large-scale mural work, etc. I can't believe I am just discovering Futura, but I am thankful that he has ignited this fire in me to create freely, boldly, radically, and unapologetically. Like YES, and thank you!!
‘Futura Akari’ is on view through February 28th, 2021. Visit Noguchi Museum’s official website to read Futura's full artist feature or reserve tickets.
ALSO, I mean... if you were wondering what would make a perfect studio-warming gift... I guess the Akari 1A or the Akari 9A .. whichever one tbh... would really liven up the space and make my heart glad... just putting it out there... Thank youuu!
Please enjoy these photos that I captured of the “Futura Akari” exhibition. This show brought me much joy, solace, and enlightenment, and I am so glad I got to see it in person.
