Artwork copyright Michihiro Kosuge. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Michihiro Kosuge. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Michihiro Kosuge. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Michihiro Kosuge. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Michihiro Kosuge. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Continuation of Linkage, 2005

Michihiro Kosuge
(Japanese, born 1943, died 2021)

Location: Highline College, Des Moines

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Michihiro Kosuge's two-part artwork Continuation of Linkage draws attention to the connections between Highline College and Central Washington University, which has a satellite campus at Highline College in Des Moines, Western Washington. The two pillars represent stacked books and celebrate teaching, learning, and helping – activities that are the foundations of any college. The sculptures are also like the two colleges: apart but near, connected by a path. They are physically located at opposite ends of the Higher Education Center.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Central Washington University and Highline Community Collge.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artist and teacher Michihiro Kosuge (1943-2021) was known in the Northwest for his sculptures and public installations made with stone. His art explored the interaction of humans with nature and respected the natural world. He noted, "I never thought that I was a patient person... [working with] stone helped make me be patient."
Kosuge was born in Tokyo, Japan and studied sculpture at Tokyo Sumida Technical School of Architecture. At age 21, he came to the U.S. to study architecture. He explains that, "After taking several art courses to better understand shape and form, I found that making sculpture was a much better way to express my ideas and my way of thinking." Kosuge earned his Master of Fine Arts in sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1970. He taught at Portland State University from 1978 until his retirement in 2003.