Takamichi Ito (Japanese, 1939-)
“Sixteen Turning Sticks” 1969
Stainless steel, iron, motor, paint 350×300×300 cm
Made of stainless steel and using electricity as its power source, it does not exhibit a stiff, mechanical movement, but rather the swaying lines present a unique, seductive movement. Takamichi Ito graduated in metalwork from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1962. Immediately after graduation, he started working in display design and then later turned to sculpture, becoming active in a wide range of fields including outdoor sculpture, public art, lighting design, and stage design. "In a space where humans exist, there is light," he has said. "In a natural space, there is movement. This light and movement is the theme of my forms." He is recognized as one of Japan's leading kinetic artists.