They are neither judgmental nor subservient they exist humbly and kindly together with nature, representing countless prayers to the souls that live within tiny things. Her works take us back to the primordial beliefs of Japan.
Noguchi believes that as the apex predator, the wolf symbolized the rich cycle of life and death upon which mountain worship is based and that is why it was given the name ‘ Okami’ (great god). Like foxes and deer, wolves are considered messengers of the gods, and in ancient times they were venerated as gods in their own right under the name, ‘Okuchi’ (Big Mouth). Mitakesan, northwest of Tokyo, the shrines devoted to mountain asceticism, have statues of wolves, known as ‘Oinu-sama’, enshrined at their entrances in place of the usual guardian dogs and from this we can see that the ancient worship of wolves remains alive in Japan to this day. This has a great significance for NOGUCHI as when she was small, her grandmother kept dog that was a cross between a Japanese wolf and a dog and it protected her when she was small. The title of this exhibition, ‘OKAMI’, can mean either ‘wolf’ or ‘great god’ depending on the Japanese characters used to write it. It is as if the elemental spirits have taken over her hands in order to embody themselves in this world, appearing in an abundant variety of guises, richly individualistic and displaying lively expressions. She says that when she is working, she sometimes feels that her body is unable to keep up with the images that flow from her mind. As soon as a people is no longer able to feel this power, the beauty of their country will fade.” She was in her forties when she began to work in clay and ever since she has concentrated on the creation of thee-dimensional sculptures that express her unique worldview. “The faith of the Japanese is based on an awareness of a vast, invisible power. She devoted herself to the study of documents and literature, becoming deeply versed in the Japanese character and folk beliefs. As she grew, she played with the spirits that inhabited the great trees of the forests and whenever she stepped into the sea or a river, she fantasized that she was coming into direct contact with the god of water. Using clay as her medium, the remarkably talented woman sculptor, Harumi NOGUCHI, recreates the demons and spirits that appear in ancient Japanese tales or legends, as well as some of the countless gods that reside in nature.īorn in Tokyo in 1954, NOGUCHI delighted in reading books on mythology, legends and old tales from an early age, becoming fascinated with the view of nature held by the Japanese of the eighth century when Japan’s oldest books, the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki were written. Even today, when we walk through the countryside we frequently come across shrines dedicated to these elemental spirits. Since ancient times the Japanese people have believed that ‘ Kami’, elemental spirits, inhabited the plants and wind, the mountains, seas, forests, and rivers. He eventually wants to offer “tasting tours” to vineyards and distilleries both here and abroad.Ippodo Gallery New York is delighted to announce that from December 8, it will be presenting Harumi NOGUCHI’s second exhibition of sculpture in New York, entitled OKAMI-The Wolf and The Elemental Spirits of Nature.
When quarantine ends, we want customers to come in and explore, talk to the staff, and discover new things.”Įlemental offers small-batch craft spirits, natural and low-intervention wines, local craft beer, vintage barware, and more Atkinson said he’s been in conversation with Manuel’s Tavern and other local restaurants about holding tastings and educational events.
“I wanted to create a different shopping experience entirely – more curated like a high-end wine shop with browsable wide aisles, light and bright. “I personally hated the liquor store experience, but I had been to great ones in New York, San Francisco, Paris, and Tokyo and saw the possibilities of opening a boutique bottle shop,” he said. The 2,000 square foot shop is definitely not your average package or liquor store, most of which Atkinson said he finds depressing. I challenged my brokers to get a foot in the door with Selig. “My property broker looked at a number of spaces, but the Manuel’s Tavern space was still in the back of my mind. “I tried to get a meeting with Selig, but they wouldn’t take my calls,” Atkinson said.
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