Isamu Noguchi

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington D.C. and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York are co-organising a long-overdue celebration and re-evaluation of the achievements in sculpture of Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988). Although known for his commissioned designs for stage and gardens, Noguchi gained most renown for his sculptures created over a span of six decades. Previous exhibitions and publications have situated his sculptures within the context of his commercial designs; in contrast, the Whitney-Hirshhorn exhibition and catalogue emphasises the most varied and innovative sculptures from the late 1920s through the late 1960s, including 65-70 sculptures and 20-25 works on paper. Related drawings and collages reveal surprisingly aggressive tendencies and sexual innuendoes, as well as pragmatic approaches to design and construction, providing fascinating glimpses into an artist's creative processes.