112 - YOSHIN OGATA (Miyakonojo, Japan, 1948).

YOSHIN OGATA (Miyakonojo, Japan, 1948). “Lotus Flower,” 1993. Bronze. Edition of six unnumbered copies. Signed and dated on the base. Measurements: 38 x 19 x 16 cm. Provenance: Family bequest of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. An art and heritage collection originating from the legacy of the Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a key figure in 19th-century Catalan realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched over successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original estates of both artists, along with new acquisitions made by their descendants. They remained particularly dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the family legacy, acquiring works by the painters themselves as they came onto the market and gradually expanding the collection with paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other objects of artistic and historical interest. The piece on display is part of a series of six works created by Yoshin Ogata, a contemporary Japanese sculptor. In 1970, Ogata began his studies at the British Museum; from that point on, he traveled around the world, drawing inspiration from different cultures and training as an artist specializing in sculpture. He later spent extended periods in the United States and Mexico, fascinated by the Maya culture of that region. He continued his studies in Italy, earning a degree from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts (Milan) and becoming acquainted with the great sculptors through his observation of works in cities such as Florence, Rome, and Carrara (the latter known as the source of the marble used by Michelangelo to create his sculptures). His works, often monumental in scale, are based on the concept of basic, pure, and fluid forms. Since 1991, Ogata has created pieces located all over the world, notably the work “5 Rings” located in Beijing’s Olympic Park (created for the 2008 Olympics) and “Forma d’Acqua,” created for the International Sculpture Biennale in Turin and the Carrara Biennale. Yoshin Ogata currently lives and works in Italy.