Around the World: Behind the Scenes with Isamu Noguchi, Virtual Tour with Shizu Saldamando, and More

Each week, we'll share a variety of videos, articles, webcasts, and more from around the web — all curated by Asia Society Texas Center staff to reflect the broad interests and goals of our mission. On Thursdays, connect with art online and get a closer look at exhibitions at Asia Society and elsewhere.

Video: Making Portraits of Friends with Artist Shizu Saldamando

L.A.-based artist Shizu Saldamando was featured in Asia Society Texas' exhibition Portraiture Now, and she has a new exhibition of friends, artists, and activists. Join this virtual tour with the artist and learn more about her process and sources of inspiration. There's also a guided activity included for participants to create their own work in response to Saldamando's.

Download the activity worksheet »
Learn more about Shizu Saldamando »
Follow the artist on Instagram »

Video: Go Behind the Scenes with Artist Isamu Noguchi

Sending a special shout-out to art handlers and install crews at every museum! Watch this brief video to go behind the scenes on their work, alongside artist Isamu Noguchi, on a technically challenging installation of his work Water Stone at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Count the number of forehead scratches as well as the cups of tea and coffee consumed, and listen for the most telling quote: "I bet you we did it 18 times." It's always worth it in the end.

Learn more about Isamu Noguchi »
Follow the Noguchi Museum on Instagram »
Follow the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Instagram »

Interview: Q&A with Japanese Photographer Sohei Nishino

Featured in our New Cartographies exhibition, Sohei Nishino creates physical maps of his lived experiences. "As a photographer who carries my camera everywhere I go, I am continuously exploring both the physical and the way my surroundings affect my body. Ultimately my aim is to create a physical map, so I am constantly thinking of ways to develop this method. Movement is a very important element of my work, and I welcome all kinds of changes like a constant flow of water which will vanish if the flow stops." This Q&A offers a great preview of his new Himalayan project.

Follow the artist on Instagram »

Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, United Airlines, and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts and Culture; and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Presenting Sponsor of the Japan Series. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Hearts Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, McKinsey & Company, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as Friends of Asia Society.

About Asia Society at Home

Though Asia Society is temporarily closed, we are dedicated to continuing our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and uplifting human connectivity. Using digital tools, we bring you content for all ages and conversations that matter, in order to spark curiosity about Asia and to foster empathy.

About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.