The shape of Tokyo Skytree® originated here! A complete look at its "curved shape"

(Top image) Curved Form - 1 (1978) Collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo © Sumikawa Kiichi

Go, see, and experience the world of art
File.25 Yokohama Museum of Art "Kiichi Sumikawa: Curves and Curves"
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)

I like abstract sculpture.
I often find paintings incomprehensible, but with three-dimensional art, I feel somehow freer. Perhaps it's because I can appreciate it from any angle I like, 360 degrees around, and simply think, "That's cool!"...though this is just my personal opinion.
So, I was very interested in the "Kiichi Sumikawa: Curves and Curves" exhibition at the Yokohama Museum of Art from the moment I saw the poster announcing its opening. I was invited to the preview, so I eagerly went.

On display in the prologue is a model of Kintaikyo Bridge, which is said to be the origin of Mr. Sumikawa's creative work. Needless to say, it is a wooden arch bridge that spans the Nishiki River in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Born in Shimane Prefecture, Sumikawa went on to study mechanical engineering at Iwakuni Technical School in Yamaguchi Prefecture, where he encountered Kintaikyo Bridge. I don't think Sumikawa was the only one who was captivated by the beauty of the famous bridge's form and made numerous sketches, but what makes him "no ordinary person" is that when the bridge was washed away by a typhoon in 1950 and became a mass of wood and stone, he felt that it was "an exceptionally powerful structure, even when viewed as a modern art installation."
The artist's sensibility is truly amazing.

*Left: Mr. K (1960) Right: Mr. S (1959) Artist's collection ©Sumikawa Kiichi

Sumikawa, who went on to study sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts, learned figurative expression through clay modeling.
Looking at his works from that period, they are thoroughly "realistic." Furthermore, Sumikawa has also worked on projects such as reconstructing the faces of ancient people from bones at the request of anthropologists, and reconstructing the faces of victims from their remains at the National Research Institute of Police Science, so I felt that his world was "super-realistic" beyond mere realism...

*Left: MASK (1967), Collection of Yamaguchi Prefectural Museum of Art Right: MASK VI (1967), Collection of Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art ©Sumikawa Kiichi

His work underwent a major transformation around 1961, when he resigned as an assistant at Tokyo University of the Arts!
He says he was "inspired by African masks and the masks used in the Iwami Kagura dance from his hometown," but it's hard to believe they're the work of the same person. Since it's called "MASK," there should be some commonality with "faces," so why did it turn out like this?
While thinking that, I almost wanted to shout "Here it comes!!" in my heart because it's so powerful, free, and wonderful.

In 1967, around the same time he returned to the sculpture department of Tokyo University of the Arts as a lecturer, he began to work with materials such as stone and metal, and since then, he has created works using a wide variety of materials. To the untrained eye, his work is so diverse that it seems like "anything goes," and you can look at it over and over without getting bored.
The encounter with stone and stainless steel then expanded to include applications in public spaces, including outdoors.

That's right, Mr. Sumikawa is the design supervisor for "Tokyo Skytree®," the largest public building of this century.
But that's not all. It seems they were regularly used in various places, such as the "Ipponbashi" and "Dokeibashi" bridges over the Ooka River, and the "Kamoikebashi" bridge over the Tsurumi River.
Naturally, the actual artwork isn't on display, but realizing that the artist has strong ties to Kanagawa Prefecture, I found myself engrossed in the information panel.

*A curved form (1992) Shimane Prefectural Museum of Art © Sumikawa Kiichi

The theme of Chapter 4 is finally "The Art of Craftsmanship: Curving and Bending."
Natural wood warps and twists over time, but instead of resisting this nature, Sumikawa incorporates these changes into his work. The forms that Sumikawa creates don't feel stable, but rather have a natural flow and a thrilling sense of being at the mercy of nature. They seem to sway with the rhythm of nature, making it impossible to look away.

Japan has a very large variety of trees, which is why traditional techniques such as the construction of wooden temples have been cultivated there since ancient times.
"Just like humans, trees have their own character, and when you touch them, they seem to speak to you. I want to listen to their voices and carve out 'curved forms' that bring out the essence of the material, such as the beauty of the wood grain and its natural colors," says Sumikawa.

Wooden materials are also on display at the venue. While touching the artwork is prohibited, you are allowed to touch this wood, so be sure to check out its texture.

For over 40 years, Mr. Sumikawa has been pursuing the "curved forms" of his sculptures. The sight of these sculptures standing in a row in the exhibition room is magnificent.
And beyond the back wall, in the final exhibition room, is Sumikawa's latest work, which was unveiled in 2019.
A dignified sense of tension and a natural, relaxed feeling.
I want you to experience the actual artwork firsthand, so I will refrain from posting any images.

Finally, let me introduce the limited-time menu that Café Ogurayama has always offered.
This time, they're offering "Sori to Mukuri's Kinako Latte" (450 yen/excluding tax), a kinako-flavored latte topped with colorful "oiri" (colorful rice crackers), matcha karinto (green tea crackers), and gold leaf. Be sure to try this cute latte, which is a little different from the chic image of the exhibition.

This event has ended.
《Kiichi Sumikawa: Sori to Mukuri》
[Dates and Times] February 15th (Sat) - May 24th (Sun), 10:00 - 18:00 (Last entry at 17:30)
*On Fridays and Saturdays in May, the museum will be open until 8:00 PM (last entry at 7:30 PM).
[Venue] Yokohama Museum of Art
[Closed on Thursdays]
[Admission Fees] General Admission: ¥1,500, University/High School Students: ¥900, Junior High School Students: ¥600, Elementary School Students and younger: Free
*Admission is free on Saturday, March 28, 2020!