Listening to Stone: The Art and Life of Isamu Noguchi
“If you allow yourself to be – or imagine yourself to be – part of all phenomena, then you are able to be anywhere, and the artist is merely the shaman who is able to contact all these other phenomena. Therefore, you are really free and you really don’t belong anywhere.”
Noguchi’s words summarize a lifetime of belonging nowhere and yet sculpting his connection with culture, community, and history on a global scale. Herrera describes the evolution of Noguchi’s sculpture from earth, stone, metals, and back to stone, as evident in his prolific creations. His enigmatic relationships with his artistic mother and absent poet father strongly affected his future relationships. The most moving parts of this biography concern his work with dancer Margaret Mitchell, as he designed the sets for her productions; the influences from his international travel; and his work for UNESCO and other sponsors concerning WWII and after. Expressing his sensory connection with earth and stone defines Isamu Noguchi. Comprehensive and beautifully written, Listening to Stone is a brilliant work of historical biography.
