Hommage a la Grande Nature du Neguev

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Artist:

Yasuo Mizui

Location:

Desert Sculpture Park
Mitzpe Ramon

Size:

12 feet tall

Material:

Marble

Date:

1962

Description A carved stone monolith with a hole cut at the top, on the rim of Ramon Crater
Caption "The title of the sculpture at Desert Sculpture Park is ‘Hommage a la grande nature du Néguev’ marbre 315 cm; Symposium d'Israel. Mizui was a member of a symposium of sculptors who met annually and created sculptures in several countries. He has grand sized sculptures much larger than this one all around the world.
I am not positive but I do believe that this is Mizui's only sculpture in Israel. In his book entitled ‘50 ans de Sculpture’ there is a full page B/W photo of the sculpture.  The caption reads: ‘Pour moi qui étais originaire de Kyoto, ce fut un véritable lavage de cerveau de vivre pendant deux mois dans ce désrt du Néguev. Au tout début, en prenant le ciseau, j'avais le sentiment que, dans cette immense nature, tout ce que je pourrais faire serait une goutte d'eau dans la mer. Lorsque j'eus ouvert le trou qui, a son sommet, donne sa forme a ma sculpture, j'eus l'impression que le soleil se levait sur moi.'”
This information was provided by Jeanette Meagher of Seattle, WA who interviewed Yasuo Mizui and is fundraising to complete a documentary film on his life. Contact her at: jmeagher5@comcast.net/

Yasuo Mizui studied technology and art in Japan at the University of Kobe. In 1953 he moved to Paris and studied sculpture with Alfred Auguste Jannot who was “Professor of Monumental Art" at the Beaux-Arts. Between 1954 and 1958 Mizui assisted the Spanish sculptor Apelles Fenosa in his studio in the Rue Saint Jacques. 
From: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuo_Mizui

Identification of the sculpture was provided by 
Negev Jeep Tours
http://www.negevjeep.co.il/
Phone:  052 8813112  
They provide tours of Ramon Crater and Desert Sculpture Park