Tsukubai

Izumi was a long-time protégé and collaborator of the sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988). Inspired by traditional Japanese stone basins placed near the entrances to teahouses, temples, and shrines, Izumi crafted this object from Japanese basalt, a dark, hard stone that resembles marble. The exterior is a rugged, oxidized brown color; cross-sectioning reveals the dull gray of the basalt inside. Izumi ground and polished the surface of the cross-section by hand with a whetstone and water for many months, until he achieved a slightly concave surface with a mirror-like smoothness. A pump continuously recirculates a small amount of water to the basin. The slowly flowing water gives the fountain the illusion of stillness. Please take a moment to rest on the built-in bench to meditate.