The Bellagio now has a new art installation handcrafted by renowned Japanese sculptor Masatoshi Izumi just outside of the hotel’s main entrance.
The installation, A Gift From the Earth, includes four distinct stone sculptures, Wind, Fire, Water and Land, each representing one of earth’s four elements. Meticulously hand carved from basalt over the course of 18 months, each sculpture weighs between 17,000 and 27,000 pounds. Basalt, a form of lava that has cooled on the volcano’s surface, is frequently found in Japanese art as it represents the origins of the island nation.
“Art and culture are integral to the Bellagio experience, with original works throughout the resort, in addition to rotating exhibits at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art,” said Tarissa Tiberti, executive director of MGM Resorts Fine Art Collection. “The Izumi installation is a tremendous addition to this experience and is a beautiful representation of the authentic art forms within the Japanese culture.”
Izumi was born into a family of stone carvers in Japan and began working on his own craft in 1953. His work celebrates harmony with nature by taking existing forms and altering them slightly to reveal an even more beautiful state.
Izumi’s work has been showcased around the world in Japan, Taiwan, San Francisco and Chicago, in addition to Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas where “CACTUS Life – living with Earth” has been part of the iconic CityCenter Fine Art Collection since the hotel’s opening in 2009.
