Kengiro Azuma's work (1971) at a sculpture symposium in St. Margarethen
Azuma was born March 12, 1926, in Yamagata, Japan to a family of bronze artisans.[1] When he was 17, Azuma joined the Imperial Japanese Navy as a Kamikaze pilot, but the war ended before the time came for him to sacrifice himself. World War II and the discovery of the emperor's humanity had a great impact on the Japanese people. For Azuma personally, it created a spiritual void that pushed him towards art.[2]
From 1949 to 1953, Azuma studied sculpture at the University of Tokyo. In 1956 he moved to Italy after receiving a scholarship from the Italian government. Azuma studied at the Brera Academy in Milan where he was a student and eventually the art assistant of Marino Marini (sculptor).[3] In 1966, his work was exhibited as part of "The New Japanese Painting and Sculpture" at the MoMa in New York.[4]
Azuma lived and worked in Milan for most of his career. He continued as Marino Marini's art assistant until Marini's death in 1980.[5] From 1980 to 1990 he was a professor at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti. In 2015, he installed a permanent sculpture, it:MU 141, in the public square in front of the Cimitero Monumentale di Milano.
Kengiro Azuma died at his home in Milan on October 15, 2016.[6] In 2017, in honor of Azuma, the Marino Marini Foundation hosted an exhibition of Azuma's work at the it:Palazzo Fabroni.[7]
Mu-464edit
Kengiro Azuma’s contribution to the California International Sculpture Symposium at California State University Long Beach in 1965,[8] MU-464, is an aluminum sculpture which speaks to Azuma’s personal beliefs as a Zen Buddhist, among other things. The phrase “mu mu” is written on the surface of the sculpture.[9] “Mu” in Zen Buddhism means “nothing”, evocative of the Zen Buddhist belief that the universe emerged from nothingness. The work’s intention to evoke calm and contemplation stands in stark contrast to the somewhat chaotic behind the scenes decision making of the sculpture symposium in Long Beach, California. Azuma was selected to participate in the symposium in June 1965, only a few weeks before the symposium had begun – it is very likely that he was a short-notice replacement for another artist. Furthermore, Azuma was not able to complete MU-464 by the August 14th deadline, instead finalizing his work in early September. Additionally, Azuma was not able to create the work through bronze or steel, his usual materials of choice, due to budget constraints. Instead, MU-464 was made with aluminum which Azuma had not previously worked with. Nevertheless, the sculpture standing at just over ten feet tall was able to come to fruition. Though an unexpected amendment to Azuma’s MU series at first, the usage of aluminum did have some significance to the artist’s personal life. The material acted as a connection between Azuma and the booming aerospace industry in Southern California, given his background training as a kamikaze pilot in World War II.[10] The process behind the actual sculpting of the work was rather spontaneous, which ties into Azuma’s philosophies about life. Overall, the sculpture symbolizes peace and its coexistence with chaos in our universe. The sculpture has moved three separate times since its inception – today it resides in the western region of CSULB’s campus.
Awardsedit
1995: Awarded the Shiju-hosho Prize by the Emperor of Japan.[11] The Shiju-hosho, also called the "Medal of Honor with the Purple Ribbon", is awarded for achievements in academics or the arts.
1996: Awarded the Ambrogino d'Argento by the City of Milan[12]
Referencesedit
^"Kengiro Azuma biography". Lorenzelli Arte. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
^. Corriere Della Sera. November 16, 2015. Archived from the original on November 16, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
^"PROFILO COMPOSITORI, AUTORI-Kengiro Azuma". novurgia.it. Novurgìa. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
^"The New Japanese Painting and Sculpture". The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
^"L'INTERVISTA/KENGIRO AZUMA". Exibart (in Italian). Retrieved January 17, 2019.
^Madaro, Lorenzo (October 15, 2016). "È morto a Milano lo scultore giapponese Kengiro Azuma. Fu allievo di Marino Marini". Artribune (in Italian). Retrieved January 17, 2019.
^"Sculture di Kengiro Azuma nella casa di Marino Marini". FIRSTonline (in Italian). October 14, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
^Kengiro Azuma, "MU 464", retrieved March 14, 2022
^"MU 464". Arts Council for Long Beach. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
^Far-Sited: California International Sculpture Symposium 1965/2015. University Art Museum, California State University, Long Beach. 2018.
^"Intervista. Azuma, l'arte che risana". avvenire.it (in Italian). March 12, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
kenjirō, azuma, 吾妻, 兼治郎, azuma, kenjirō, march, 1926, october, 2016, japanese, born, sculptor, painter, teacher, 吾妻, 兼治郎born, 1926, march, 1926yamagata, japandiedoctober, 2016, 2016, aged, milan, italyeducationtokyo, university, arts, contents, biography, awar. Kenjirō Azuma 吾妻 兼治郎 Azuma Kenjirō March 12 1926 October 15 2016 was a Japanese born sculptor painter and teacher Kenjirō Azuma吾妻 兼治郎Born 1926 03 12 March 12 1926Yamagata JapanDiedOctober 15 2016 2016 10 15 aged 90 Milan ItalyEducationTokyo University of the Arts Contents 1 Biography 2 Mu 464 3 Awards 4 References 5 External linksBiography edit nbsp Kengiro Azuma s work 1971 at a sculpture symposium in St Margarethen Azuma was born March 12 1926 in Yamagata Japan to a family of bronze artisans 1 When he was 17 Azuma joined the Imperial Japanese Navy as a Kamikaze pilot but the war ended before the time came for him to sacrifice himself World War II and the discovery of the emperor s humanity had a great impact on the Japanese people For Azuma personally it created a spiritual void that pushed him towards art 2 From 1949 to 1953 Azuma studied sculpture at the University of Tokyo In 1956 he moved to Italy after receiving a scholarship from the Italian government Azuma studied at the Brera Academy in Milan where he was a student and eventually the art assistant of Marino Marini sculptor 3 In 1966 his work was exhibited as part of The New Japanese Painting and Sculpture at the MoMa in New York 4 Azuma lived and worked in Milan for most of his career He continued as Marino Marini s art assistant until Marini s death in 1980 5 From 1980 to 1990 he was a professor at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti In 2015 he installed a permanent sculpture it MU 141 in the public square in front of the Cimitero Monumentale di Milano Kengiro Azuma died at his home in Milan on October 15 2016 6 In 2017 in honor of Azuma the Marino Marini Foundation hosted an exhibition of Azuma s work at the it Palazzo Fabroni 7 Mu 464 editKengiro Azuma s contribution to the California International Sculpture Symposium at California State University Long Beach in 1965 8 MU 464 is an aluminum sculpture which speaks to Azuma s personal beliefs as a Zen Buddhist among other things The phrase mu mu is written on the surface of the sculpture 9 Mu in Zen Buddhism means nothing evocative of the Zen Buddhist belief that the universe emerged from nothingness The work s intention to evoke calm and contemplation stands in stark contrast to the somewhat chaotic behind the scenes decision making of the sculpture symposium in Long Beach California Azuma was selected to participate in the symposium in June 1965 only a few weeks before the symposium had begun it is very likely that he was a short notice replacement for another artist Furthermore Azuma was not able to complete MU 464 by the August 14th deadline instead finalizing his work in early September Additionally Azuma was not able to create the work through bronze or steel his usual materials of choice due to budget constraints Instead MU 464 was made with aluminum which Azuma had not previously worked with Nevertheless the sculpture standing at just over ten feet tall was able to come to fruition Though an unexpected amendment to Azuma s MU series at first the usage of aluminum did have some significance to the artist s personal life The material acted as a connection between Azuma and the booming aerospace industry in Southern California given his background training as a kamikaze pilot in World War II 10 The process behind the actual sculpting of the work was rather spontaneous which ties into Azuma s philosophies about life Overall the sculpture symbolizes peace and its coexistence with chaos in our universe The sculpture has moved three separate times since its inception today it resides in the western region of CSULB s campus Awards edit1995 Awarded the Shiju hosho Prize by the Emperor of Japan 11 The Shiju hosho also called the Medal of Honor with the Purple Ribbon is awarded for achievements in academics or the arts 1996 Awarded the Ambrogino d Argento by the City of Milan 12 References edit Kengiro Azuma biography Lorenzelli Arte Retrieved September 12 2019 Azuma il kamikaze che si fece scultore Corriere Della Sera November 16 2015 Archived from the original on November 16 2015 Retrieved January 17 2019 PROFILO COMPOSITORI AUTORI Kengiro Azuma novurgia it Novurgia Retrieved January 17 2019 The New Japanese Painting and Sculpture The Museum of Modern Art Retrieved January 17 2019 L INTERVISTA KENGIRO AZUMA Exibart in Italian Retrieved January 17 2019 Madaro Lorenzo October 15 2016 E morto a Milano lo scultore giapponese Kengiro Azuma Fu allievo di Marino Marini Artribune in Italian Retrieved January 17 2019 Sculture di Kengiro Azuma nella casa di Marino Marini FIRSTonline in Italian October 14 2017 Retrieved January 17 2019 Kengiro Azuma MU 464 retrieved March 14 2022 MU 464 Arts Council for Long Beach Retrieved March 14 2022 Far Sited California International Sculpture Symposium 1965 2015 University Art Museum California State University Long Beach 2018 Intervista Azuma l arte che risana avvenire it in Italian March 12 2014 Retrieved January 17 2019 BENEMERENZE CIVICHE PDF comune milano it External links editArtforum Kengiro Azuma 1926 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kenjirō Azuma amp oldid 1195878795, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
