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Isamu Noguchi Trivia Quiz

This Japanese-American artist is remembered for his works in sculpture, as well as set designs for theater and landscapes. Here is a quiz on his life and career. Hope you enjoy. Thanks.

A multiple-choice quiz by neon000. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
neon000

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
270,742

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
248

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Isamu Noguchi was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1904. He lived in the U.S., then Japan, and again in the U.S. Noguchi attended school in Indiana in 1918. In 1927, he won what prestigious honor? Hint

Rhodes Scholarship

National Endowment for the Arts grant

Pulitzer Prize

Guggenheim Fellowship

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Question 2 of 10

2. Noguchi found work as an assistant to another sculptor. Who was he? Hint

Constantin Brancusi

Henry Moore

Alexander Calder

Mark di Suvero

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Question 3 of 10

3. How many sculptures did Noguchi complete during his first year of work, 1927? Hint

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Question 4 of 10

4. Noguchi continued his studies in France, India and England. In 1929, he traveled to New York. His first show opened at the Eugene Schoen Gallery. How many pieces sold? Hint

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Question 5 of 10

5. Noguchi built a fountain for the Ford Motor Company's pavilion at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. Of what was it made? Hint

Automobile parts

Glass

Marble

Adobe

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Question 6 of 10

6. In the 1940s and 1950s, Noguchi sculpted pieces involving the display of light. He created a series of lamps known for their playful shapes. What were they called? Hint

Akari

Sumi

Satori

Chigasaki

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Question 7 of 10

7. Noguchi said ceramics work had which contradictory attributes? Hint

Frightening and soothing

Light and dark

Fragile and durable

Happy and sad

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Question 8 of 10

8. Isamu designed many stage sets for performances by the Martha Graham Dance Company. Which of the following was the first such creation? Hint

Appalachian Spring

Frontier

Herodiade

Cave of the Heart

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Question 9 of 10

9. What Noguchi sculpture, on display in Sapporo, Japan, allowed viewers to climb up a tunnel in its back and glide down a ramp in the front? Hint

Octetra

Musical Weather Vane

Black Slide Mantra

Globular

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Question 10 of 10

10. A Noguchi granite sculpture of a torus (donut-shape) in Volunteer Park, Seattle, Washington, was the inspiration for what highly successful 1994 song? Hint

"Missing," Everything but the Girl

"Hold On to Your Friends," Morrissey

"Black Hole Sun," Soundgarden

"This is a Low," Blur

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Guggenheim Fellowship

He used the award to travel to Paris. Here he furthered his study of sculpture. Later that year, Noguchi would begin to craft his earliest projects in stone and wood.

2. Noguchi found work as an assistant to another sculptor. Who was he?

Answer: Constantin Brancusi

Brancusi was born in Romania in 1876. Among his best-known works were "Endless Column" and the series of pieces, "Bird in Space."

3. How many sculptures did Noguchi complete during his first year of work, 1927?

Answer: 1

The piece was called "Sphere Section." It was done in marble.

4. Noguchi continued his studies in France, India and England. In 1929, he traveled to New York. His first show opened at the Eugene Schoen Gallery. How many pieces sold?

Answer: 0

The show had included abstract originals. The defeat made Isamu turn to the more accessible format of portrait busts. These proved more popular, and he raised enough money to continue his studies. In Japan, he took up painting and pottery.

5. Noguchi built a fountain for the Ford Motor Company's pavilion at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. Of what was it made?

Answer: Automobile parts

The fountain received poor reviews. However, it did serve some use, as it helped Noguchi prepare for the large-scale public designs he would create in later years.

6. In the 1940s and 1950s, Noguchi sculpted pieces involving the display of light. He created a series of lamps known for their playful shapes. What were they called?

Answer: Akari

Noguchi crafted the pieces using bamboo and paper. He designed them so that they could be collapsed for easy storage when not in use.

7. Noguchi said ceramics work had which contradictory attributes?

Answer: Fragile and durable

Noguchi had studied ceramics in the 1930s with Japanese artist Uno Jinmatsu. Isamu later produced a sculpture called "The Queen," inspired by memorial statues called 'haniwa.'

8. Isamu designed many stage sets for performances by the Martha Graham Dance Company. Which of the following was the first such creation?

Answer: Frontier

Graham (1894-1991) produced over 180 works in her stellar career. She addressed themes such as religion and Greek myth. "Frontier" debuted in 1935, with music by Louis Horst. "Appalachian Spring" and "Herodiade" opened in 1944, with music by Aaron Copland and Paul Hindemith, respectively. "Cave of the Heart," music by Samuel Barber, premiered in 1946.

9. What Noguchi sculpture, on display in Sapporo, Japan, allowed viewers to climb up a tunnel in its back and glide down a ramp in the front?

Answer: Black Slide Mantra

Some Noguchi pieces were deliberately made to be actively used by viewers. "Black Slide Mantra" was carved from black marble. It was placed in Odori Park.

10. A Noguchi granite sculpture of a torus (donut-shape) in Volunteer Park, Seattle, Washington, was the inspiration for what highly successful 1994 song?

Answer: "Black Hole Sun," Soundgarden

The song went to number one on the Billboard mainstream rock singles chart; its album, "Superunknown," reached the top rank on the album charts on March 26, 1994. Noguchi's sculpture itself was simply named "Black Sun."

Source: Author neon000

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