Isamu Wakabayashi, born 1936, graduated 1959 from Tokyo University of the Arts. In 1962, he won the Gold Medal of the Nika Exhibition. He participated in the Venice Biennale of 1980 and 1986, and a major exhibition of his works was held jointly the following year at the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art and Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art. He received the Teijiro Nakahara Prize in 1996, and was appointed as a professor at Tama Art University in 1999. Mainly relying on iron, bronze, and lead as his materials of choice, Wakabayashi indulges in deeply contemplative works based on his appreciation of nature. He received the Bungei Sensho Award in 2003, and passed away the same year, aged 67.

It is probably surprising to hear that Wakabayashi during his lifetime produced more than 700 prints. On a different note, there is a bar called “Radio” not far away from Gallery Toki-no-Wasuremono, which has the reputation of being known to virtually all major art curators in Japan while none has actually gone there (because it’s too classy). This bar is a reincarnation of its prior installment close to Jingumae Station, a little further towards Harajuku area. In the original spot, the interior including the walls was designed by the artist, with particularly the wall decoration being rather formidable. I really wish someone would finally restore “Radio” to its old, Wakabayashi-flavored splendor.