Le Xi's 'Breath of Water': Inspired by Isamu Noguchi
The work "Breath of Water" was created beside a pond outside the works of Isamu Noguchi. In the swaying sun, one can feel the meditative space created by the interplay of the clear water surface and the textures of the pebbles, while appreciating the brilliance of the sun. The light and stone, water and shadow here naturally reflect Noguchi's pursuit of spatial spirit—blurring the boundaries between nature and the artificial in tranquility.
Le Xi, Breath of Water, 01:14 (Loop), video, dimensions variable, 2025
Using my phone as a medium, I took slow, steady shots while breathing calmly, trying to merge my body's rhythm with the swaying water and flickering sunlight. The act of shooting became not just a record, but an extended breath—a practice of existence between light and time.
The work explores qualities of "lightness" and "sway"—as water and light blend together, the phone becomes an extension of my body, and the images echo my breath. In this way, I aim to reach a perception that transcends the material, feeling time's stillness in flow and that indescribable sense of loss—a paradoxical experience where light and shadow briefly appear yet leave their marks.
Le Xi, Breath of Water, 01:14 (Loop), video, dimensions variable, 2025
This piece resonates with Noguchi's understanding of "presence"—art is not merely the display of objects but the experience of existence. When the images reflect breath, sunlight, and the water's surface, using the phone to capture becomes a path to "space" or "emptiness"—feeling the fragility and eternity of existence between extreme stillness and subtle movement.
