Skyviewing Sculpture 1969

Isamu Noguchi’s sculpture, ‘Skyviewing Sculpture’ does exactly as it says on the tin. The artist has made a structure for the people to view the sky from. I’ve always loved Noguchi’s work, how he teases a relationship between playfulness and functionality, something that feels very relevant in the current cultural moment. In this work, the large geometric planes, pierced by circular holes, seem to invite interaction, whether contemplative or mischievous! I imagine Noguchi, working with heavy materials, carving out these apertures in the dark form, making a space for light and air to come through. The sculpture gives you a new way to frame the world beyond it – the sky itself becomes the artwork. And maybe the clouds are the gestural marks up there. This way of thinking reminds me of the work of artists such as James Turrell and Robert Irwin who worked in the Light and Space movement in the 1960s. Like Noguchi, these artists ask the viewer to notice how we see, and the perceptual experience of what's around us. It's a reminder that art is everywhere, you just need to look up!