Apparently crystal formation of frozen vapour (snow) is under-researched. Some of the most valuable observations were done in the 1930s by the Japanese physicist Ukichiro Nakaya (above), who turned his attention to the study of snow crystals after experiencing difficulty finding work in the field of nuclear physics. He was the first to grow artificial snow crystals under controlled conditions, and was also pioneering in snow crystal classification. His beautiful 1954 publication Snow Crystals: Natural and Artificial contains the bulk of his research.
Fast forward a few decades and it makes some sense that the scientist’s daughter Fujiko Nakaya has developed a long-term relationship with artificial fog. Living in New York in the 1960s Nakaya mingled with the Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.) group before going on to create ‘the world’s first fog sculpture’ at the 1970 Osaka International Fair. Since then she has worked with the opaque but intangible medium of fog for installations, sculptures and performances around the world, including major commissions at the Australian National Gallery and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. She is also credited with opening Video Gallery SCAN, Japan’s first media art gallery, in Harajuku in the 80s, and she has organised biannual TV/video festivals in Tokyo for many years.
Lovely. Remember that misty forest in the Opera House for the Biennale? What a let down. Wish this lady had been in charge
Comment by Teresa Shawn — July 14, 2010 @ 12:33 amI’m trying to get in touch with Fujiko–her parents and mine were good friends.
Does anyone know her contact info?
Comment by Liddy Marcus Russell — March 31, 2011 @ 9:31 amHi Liddy, try here http://www.vctokyo.org/en/
Comment by admin — April 1, 2011 @ 8:30 am