May 19, 2022

An Homage to Four Friends: Buckminster Fuller, Isamu Noguchi, George Nakashima, and Harry Bertoia

The one-of-a-kind piece is a harmonious symphony between four great minds of the 20th century. Conceived by Thomas TK Zung, president of Buckminster Fuller, Sadao and Zung Architects, each element is an artwork in its own right and the four pieces come together in an homage that honors friendship, craftsmanship, and timelessness of influence.

The seed for “An Homage to Four Friends” was planted in a letter Zung sent to Val Bertoia and Mira Nakashima in 2010, describing his vision of an Homage to Three Friends: Buckminster Fuller, Harry Bertoia, and George Nakashima.

“Like the cosmos, slow movement, the expanding Universe, an Homage to Three Friends. Synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts” - Thomas TK Zung.

Thomas Zung beams a smile while holding a Buckminster Fuller tensegrity dome

Realized by Buckminster Fuller, the Noguchi Foundation, Val Bertoia, Celia Bertoia and Mira Nakashima, “Homage to Four Friends” sets foot in New York at Studio Zung, an architecture and interior design studio with an intimate connection through Tommy Zung, son of Thomas TK Zung and godson of Buckminster Fuller.

HOMAGE is comprised of an Isamu Noguchi Akari lamp, a Val Bertoia sounding sculpture, a Buckminster Fuller Geodesic Tensegrity Sphere, and a Mira Nakashima Claro Walnut Burl on a pentagonal Bertoia Oak base crafted by Nakashima Studios. It includes two newly designed nestled bases by Nakashima Studios, signed and dated to the underside of tabletop ‘Mira Nakashima May 10 2021’. Incised signature to one rod ‘R. Buckminster Fuller’. Printed signature to shade ‘I. Noguchi’ with a red circle and half-moon. The item is sold with a certificate issued by Val Bertoia. A second Nakashima Table crafted with a Maple Burl top and Walnut pentagonal coopered base dated May 10, 2022 will also be offered during the exhibition.

An Homage to Four Friends with a Claro Walnut table by Mira Nakashima, Buckminster Fuller tensegrity dome, Val Bertoia sounding sculptures, and a Isamu Noguchi lamp

Close up of three Bertoia sounding sculptures glistening

An Homage to Four Friends with a Claro Walnut table by Mira Nakashima, Buckminster Fuller tensegrity dome, and Val Bertoia sounding sculptures

A close up of a Isamu Noguchi lamp with his signature red circle and hand written logo

A side profile of An Homage to Four Friends with a Claro Walnut table by Mira Nakashima, Buckminster Fuller tensegrity dome, and Val Bertoia sounding sculptures

Available for purchase as a collection or each piece individually. Proceeds to go to the Nakashima Foundation for Peace and the Buckminster Fuller Partners Foundation. Browse the Homage here.