Primal Rhythm: Sun Pillar and Moon Stone
Miyako Island, Okinawa, Japan, Asia, 2011
©2011 Faou Foundation Mariko Mori Primal Rhythm: Sun Pillar, Photo: Richard Learoyd
Miyako Island, Japan Primal Rhythm is a permanent monumental installation by Mariko Mori gifted by Faou Foundation to Gaia Art Association. It highlights the natural beauty of Seven Light Bay, located on Miyako Island in Okinawa, Japan. This site-specific work comprises two large sculptures: Sun Pillar, a translucent column set atop a rock promontory, positioned to cast a ceremonial shadow across the bay each winter solstice, and Moon Stone, a sphere that changes color in response to the tides. Primal Rhythm is the first of six installations conceived to explore the dialogue between art and nature.
Courtesy Adobe Museum of Digital Media
Working with Nature
With the help of local residents and a team of engineers, Sun Pillar was successfully installed in August of 2011. Towering over the bay at 13 feet, nine inches, the artwork is a massive 2.9 tons of layered acrylic. Like all construction phases of Primal Rhythm, the installation was implemented using only human power so as to not disturb the bay's delicate coral and rock formations. By cooperating with the ocean, wave, and tidal conditions, the artwork was set entirely in place without the use of any machinery—a truly remarkable feat.
The Project is Made Possible by:
Lead Support
Philippe and Takako Khuong-Huu
Major Sponsorship
In Kind Donations
Generous Support
William A. Haseltine Foundation for Medical Sciences and the Arts
Richard Chang
Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
Hikonobu Ise
Additional Support
Alexandra Munroe and Robert Rosenkranz
Dean and Anna Backer
Chris and Kathryn Leonard
Takeo Obayashi
Masami Shiraishi
de Sarthe Gallery
Margot Paul Ernst
Honorary Advisors
Soichiro Fukutake
Shinichi Nakazawa
Kyoko Ogawa
Grethe Rostbøll
Tetsuhiro Shikiyama
Toshihiko Shimoji
Masami Shiraishi
Evaluation Committee
Yuko Hasegawa, Chief Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo
Adaniya Masahide, Director, Continued Learning Department, Education Committee of Miyako Island
Eizo Nakaza, Professor, Marine Engineering and Environmental Construction Engineering,
University of the Ryukyus
Fumio Nanjo, Director, Mori Art Museum
Yumi Nawa, President, Nawa Yumi Design Office
Naoki Onaga, Associate Director, Okinawa Prefectural Museum of Art
Takahide Oroku, Director, Miyakojima Fishery Union
Toshihiko Shimoji, Mayor, Miyako Island
Masami Shiraishi, Director, SCAI The Bathhouse
Kazunori Tachihara, Marine Science Department, University of the Ryukyus
Masayuki Uehara, President, Karimata Community Association
Project Team
Computer Graphics: Guevara Soliman, Mariko Mori Studio
Construction: Yasuo Sahira, Sahira Kensetsu Corporation
Construction Consultants: Toshiaki Miyagi, Toshiaki Makino, Kazuaki Miyanaga, Okinawa Kensetsu Giken Corporation
Coordination: Hikofumi Matsubara, Kazumi Nema, Yu Yamaguchi, NPO Gaia Art; Yumi Umemura, Shiraishi Contemporary Art
Faou Foundation: Linda Ciampoli, Emma Covode, Eleni Petaloti
Legal Consultants: Charles Danziger, Thomas Danziger, Danziger, Danziger & Muro, LLP; Kaori Nemoto, Masaru Terui, Aoyama Law Office
Mariko Mori Studio: Mina Lee, Chris Moore, Rie Nakano
Producers: Hiroya Isozaki, Otoe Nii, Nanjo Associates
Structural Engineer: Yumi Nawa, Nawa Yumi Design Office
Special Thanks
Miyamoto Amon
Shunji Fukuda
Masaki Higa
Hiroshi Kagayama
Ako Karimata
Yasuko Kasaki
Yukifusa Kokuba
Kyota Matsudo
Kazuaki Miyanaga
Satoshi Miyazato
Aska Mori
Ken Mori
Kyoko Mori
Minoru Mori
Dr. Yoko Mori
Mitsuko Motonaga
Masaharu Nagahama
Toshiko Nagaoka
Sachiko Nema
Kyoko Okada
Kazuhide Okuhara
Ankou Satoyama
Toshiichi Shimoji
Yuko Tadano
Reiko Tomii