Night Bird 1967

Isamu Noguchi made "Night Bird" with who knows what, but my sense is that it was about a process of working things out. Looking at the dark, solid form of the bird on top of this slim, shiny support, I wonder, how did he bring these materials together, what was he thinking? The contrast between the matte, hand-shaped bird and the smooth, machine-made metal is striking, isn’t it? I can imagine Noguchi in his studio, working away at the bird, feeling the weight and texture of the material in his hands. The form is all curves and hollows, which makes me think about flight, movement, and maybe even a bit of mystery. Noguchi’s exploration of form and material reminds me of the work of Constantin Brâncuși, who also used simple shapes to convey complex ideas. Like Brâncuși, Noguchi invites us to slow down and really consider the world around us. It's like he's asking us, "What does it mean to be a bird? What does it mean to be alive?"