Origin 1968

Curator: We’re now standing before “Origin,” a striking sculpture created in 1968 by the brilliant Isamu Noguchi. Editor: Well, "striking" is definitely the word that jumps to mind. It has such a primal, almost brooding presence. Like a freshly unearthed obsidian monolith. Curator: That’s interesting. Obsidian carries a lot of symbolic weight. Perhaps it's the smoothness transitioning to the rougher texture... what kind of images does it bring for you? Editor: There is definitely something about the dualities, the smoothness, it reminds me of the story of Prometheus, the titan who created man out of clay. The smoothness reflecting a godly divine origin slowly morphing into the rough, the earthen material from which man originated... the earthly plane, human experiences. It makes you think about origins of men and where they converge, wouldn't you agree? Curator: I do, the work resonates beyond its physical form. There's this biomorphic quality, you know? The contours evoke organic forms... but with such abstraction that they leave you in this space for personal projections, interpretations of course. Editor: Absolutely. The very dark color is an interesting design choice in and of itself too because it seems to conceal as much as it reveals, drawing you to scrutinize more attentively, or look deeper to find some details. It encourages meditation almost, or careful contemplation. It brings a kind of quiet intensity and solemnness too... Curator: And what a dance he leads us on... inviting to see with our hands just as much with our eyes... Editor: Mmm, very true... such primal simplicity holds multitudes! Thanks for untangling that with me today, a genuine revelation, what Noguchi tries to teach us about Origin... the beginning. Curator: It has been wonderful to see that reflected back... something to ponder indeed... and something else for us all to unravel.