Seiji Kunishima

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Seiji Kunishima
Stone Rise
1985

Project Area: Little Tokyo
Project: Union Bank
Project Location: 120 S. San Pedro Street
Project Type: Developer

Description:

"Stone Rise" is a 5'h x 13'w x 5'd sculpture of four large African granite blocks, each weighing 10 tons and separated by seven small black Indian granite stones. Roughly textured with marks from picks and chisels, the exterior surface of the African granite presents a striking contrast with the machine polished interior surface. The natural materials and horizontal lines of the sculpture contrast with the manufactured materials and vertical thrust of the surrounding architecture. Recalling a shakkei, or "borrowed scenery" garden, the mirror-like surface reflects and captures the monumental skyline of Downtown.

Artist Profile

Seiji Kunishima was born in Nagoya, Japan and has exhibited his sculptures internationally since 1963. He has gained recognition over the past forty years for his large stone abstractions of nature, which comment on the relationship between form and emptiness. His works can be found across the United States in the Laguna Beach Museum of Art; the Contemporary Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii; and the Grand Rapids Art Museum in Michigan, among others. The artist’s public sculptures are located throughout the world, including pieces in Australia, Thailand, Japan, as well as the United States.