Kenjirō Azuma

[1] When he was 17, Azuma joined the Imperial Japanese Navy as a Kamikaze pilot, but the war ended before the time came for him to sacrifice himself.

Azuma studied at the Brera Academy in Milan where he was a student and eventually the art assistant of Marino Marini (sculptor).

The work’s intention to evoke calm and contemplation stands in stark contrast to the somewhat chaotic behind the scenes decision making of the sculpture symposium in Long Beach, California.

Additionally, Azuma was not able to create the work through bronze or steel, his usual materials of choice, due to budget constraints.

The material acted as a connection between Azuma and the booming aerospace industry in Southern California, given his background training as a kamikaze pilot in World War II.