Essay #3

            After my trip to the Noguchi Museum, I can say with a clear conscience that it is indeed the best museum that I have had the chance to visit thus far.  I make this claim based on several reasons but the most fundamental reason is the overall atmosphere that the museum radiates.  First and foremost is the location of the museum, which is located in relatively quiet part of Astoria just before the East River.  Comparing the location of the Noguchi Museum to the MET is perhaps as different as night and day.  The MET is located near the heart of Manhattan, which is filled to the brim with noise pollution and sounds that completely alter the vibe.  Whereas within the Noguchi Museum, you can actually hear the birds chirping! Going to the MET always seems like a chore, something that is not done for pleasure, which then turns into quite the hassle when you have duck and dodge the hundreds of tourists that flock towards the MET.  Going to The MET, to me, seems less about visiting an art museum and more about visiting a tourist attraction.  Upon entering into the Noguchi Museum however, you are almost immediately overcome with tranquility based solely on how quiet it is within the space.  The Zen nature of the Noguchi Museum is indeed by design, which Isamu Noguchi himself deliberately tried to associate with the Museum.  As my classmates and I split into groups, the group that I was in made our way past the garden and up the stairs.  As I looked back onto the garden that we had past, I was still kept in complete awe as to how quiet and serene the entire establishment made me feel.  I knew for certain that I had to revisit the garden below.

             The first piece that I had seen was this grand sculpture that contained two parts, a bottom part and a top part.  The bottom part contained a triangular piece of metal that seemed to pierce into the top part.  The triangle contained a lot of negative space in which you could seemingly put your hand right through the middle of the triangle. The top part of this sculpture is composed of a round piece of what seems to be a rock of some type.  The colors that are present in both structures show a bit of contrast when seen as one sculpture instead of two separate parts.  I was shocked to learn however that this piece was one of the first pieces made by Isamu Noguchi.  The entire piece as whole looked a bit non-threatening, it did not seem all that fantastical or have many bells and whistles about it.  The piece itself looked very simple and elegant.  However, the intersection in which the two objects meet draws the most attention.  At a distance, both the smooth rock on top and the urbane metal triangle seem to equal each other out. Neither part seeks to dominate the other, as if to say that both parts are in a state of harmony.  This piece, as the guide told us, reflected Isamu Noguchi’s cultural background.  The top part is a representation of his Japanese heritage and the bottom part represents his American heritage.  The rock that sat atop the triangle is actually a very specific type of marble that is used almost exclusively in Japanese architecture and landscaping.  The metal triangle symbolizes American Industrialism that Isamu Noguchi lived through during his time here in the early 1940’s.  The intersection of the two parts however, perhaps deals with how Noguchi felt about himself.  Being part of two very distinct cultures probably placed a great deal of stress on Noguchi himself, which is shown through the use of how deeply ingrained the two parts are.

            The second piece and the one that I felt immediately caught my attention was simply known as “The Well”.  When viewing this piece, I felt a very deep catharsis beginning to emerge within myself.  This is where I felt the atmosphere of the Noguchi Museum really helped to enhance my understanding of art in general.  The piece is simply a water-well dug into a sizeable rock.  The water then was allowed to flow outside the well and throughout the entirety of the rock.  The way the water modestly flowed throughout the sculpture and onto the rocks below was utterly peaceful to behold.  The area around this sculpture was filled with lush trees, rich grass and the pleasant sound of birds chirping throughout.  In a way, you almost don’t notice that there is flowing water coming outside of the rock.  It is only through the faintest glimmer of light that is reflected back from the rock that you realize that there is indeed a source of water emanating from the sculpture.  In both pieces, there is a distinct sense of peace and tranquility that the artist perhaps added intentionally.  Coupled with the Zen-like ambience surrounding the museum really set the tone to the viewer that you are about to witness true pieces of art; art that not only grabs the viewer in a physical sense through textures and different surfaces but also intellectually through various placements.  Visiting the Noguchi Museum not only enriched my perception of art but also my soul.