The Life of Isamu Noguchi: Journey without Borders

by Masayo Duus, Peter Duus (Translator)

Isamu Noguchi, born in Los Angeles as the illegitimate son of an American mother and a Japanese poet father, was one of the most prolific yet enigmatic figures in the history of twentieth-century American art. Throughout his life, Noguchi (1904-1988) grappled with the ambiguity of his identity as an artist caught up in two cultures.

His personal struggles--as well as his many personal triumphs--are vividly chronicled in The Life of Isamu Noguchi , the first full-length biography of this remarkable artist. Published in connection with the centennial of the artist's birth, the book draws on Noguchi's letters, his reminiscences, and interviews with his friends and colleagues to cast new light on his youth, his creativity, and his relationships.

During his sixty-year career, there was hardly a genre that Noguchi failed to explore. He produced more than 2,500 works of sculpture, designed furniture, lamps, and stage sets, created dramatic public gardens all over the world, and pioneered the development of environmental art. After studying in Paris, where he befriended Alexander Calder and worked as an assistant to Constantin Brancusi, he became an ardent advocate for abstract sculpture.

Noguchi's private life was no less passionate than his artistic career. The book describes his romances with many women, among them the dancer Ruth Page, the painter Frida Kahlo, and the writer Anaïs Nin.

Despite his fame, Noguchi always felt himself an outsider. "With my double nationality and my double upbringing, where was my home?" he once wrote. "Where were my affections? Where my identity?" Never entirely comfortable in the New York art world, he inevitably returned to his father's homeland, where he had spent a troubled childhood. This prize-winning biography, first published in Japanese, traces Isamu Noguchi's lifelong journey across these artistic and cultural borders in search of his personal identity.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Art

440 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noguchi Court is one of my favorite parts of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. This biography of the artist behind that mind-blowing fountain (water appears still in places though it is obviously moving, wtf!) is fascinating so far. One day of reading and I am 100 pages in. Please note: I am not a fast reader.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isamu Noguchi was a fascinating man and fascinating artist. He defined his own art, never fitting into easy niches, an aspect that reflected how he saw himself, half-Japanese/ half-American but never fitting into either culture. This helped form both him and his artistic sensibility, letting him take from both cultures and not be penned in by either.

Duus's biography is compelling and highly readable. It talks both about the man, and the artist, and never becomes just an homage, but tries to paint a complete portrait, of good and bad.
Excellent book about an intriguing and complicated person.(

[Stephen Garland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noguchi worked across many disciplines, and across many cultures, without pausing at any borders between. This biography creates a wonderful portrait of Noguchi, with a deep survey of his work and how he saw the world.

[Susan Wester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given this biography 5 stars except for the fact it lacks illustrations of Noguchi's work. A problem with copyright permissions perhaps?

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Getting the inside story on how this artist created, made it into self sustainability, lived his imperfect life. I had known something about him and his dual countries of origin and how it affected him all his life. It was a good read to learn more about his life, especially after fulfilling the dream of seeing his sculptures up close in his studio in Queens. Loved the trip and loved learning so much more about him and the artists and people he knew.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool if you want to learn about various artists to begin to piece together knowledge about them you did not previously have

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more insider art world treasure. very interesting.

[Elly Sands · Rating 3 out of 5]

What can I say? If you are interested in Noguchi and his art, women, mentors, family, friends, lovers, wife, but especially his art then this is the book to read.