Noguchi is an artist who continues his practice with a focus on arms, armor, and the human figures who wear them, approached from the perspective of realism.
From an early age, he was drawn to classical oil painting as well as to armor and weaponry, and in his work he unites the two, realizing them in a manner close to what might be called hyperrealist sculpture. The image of the samurai that we commonly envision tends to be a stereotypical one—shaped by aesthetics and idealized notions of spirit.
In contrast, the figures in Noguchi’s works are not sharply separated from people of the present day. Here we find his desire not so much to create “real armor,” but to pursue the image of “real human beings.” Within a worldview where “what seems impossible yet exists” intersects with “what seems possible yet does not exist,” what ultimately gives the viewer a sense of reassurance is the palpable presence of life that radiates from these figures. Beyond humor, his works carry with them a quiet sense of pathos, a reflection of the artist’s own view of humanity.
Another source of Noguchi’s appeal lies in his technical mastery. With deep knowledge and refined skill, he renders every detail—from the intricacies of armor to the surface deterioration of painted imagery—with painstaking care. This is closely tied to his background in oil painting. Having consistently studied oil painting throughout his student years, and having learned realism from classical works, it is only natural for him to analyze the hues of patina and decay and then reconstruct them on canvas.
Though the appearance of eras may change—past, present, and future alike—the figure of humanity adapting within them remains unaltered. The reality spun by Noguchi’s world of work allows us to glimpse this most ordinary, yet profound, truth.