The Roar of the Sea
Date1998
Maker
Suzuki Masaya
Japanese, born 1932
Label TextThe Roar of the Sea was executed through a labor-intensive process. After carving grooves on the surface of the acrylic box, Masaya coated it with multiple layers of acrylic paint and lacquer and then painstakingly laid irregular pieces of mother-of-pearl on the surface as if fitting a tiny puzzle. The thread-thin spaces left between the inlaid shells were filled with more lacquer. After each stage of carving the acrylic, applying the lacquer, and arranging the mother-of-shell inlays, the surface was polished numerous times with the utmost care to achieve perfect smoothness.
Object number2001.26
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Our Blue Planet: Global Visions of Water, Mar. 18 - May 30, 2022.Credit LineGift of Suzuki Masaya and Kagedo Japanese Art
Dimensions12 x 15 3/4 x 15 3/4 in. (30.5 x 40.0 x 40.0 cm)
MediumAcrylic, lacquer, mother-of-pearl