City, 3CDC, and Partners Unveil Permanent Art Installation at Court Street Plaza

Sculpture by Renowned Local Artist is Revealed Ahead of BLINK

CINCINNATI (October 4, 2024) – With the upcoming BLINK festival less than two weeks away, representatives from the City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC), the Cincinnati Regional Chamber and Asianati gathered with renowned local artist Tom Tsuchiya at Court Street Plaza to reveal his new sculpture on the plaza’s southeast corner. The semi-translucent art piece will enhance the experience of the area during BLINK, which will once again be home to the Asianati Night Market during the public light and art event. The sculpture is made of fiberglass and stainless steel and will now be a permanent fixture at the plaza.

The new piece, Embrace No Evil, was built off the Buddhist and Confucian proverb, “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” that was popularized in Japan and associated with monkeys. In Japanese, the phrase translates to, “mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru.” Because zaru is similar to saru, the Japanese word for monkey, the simian-themed pun was born. The sculpture, which emits ambient LED lighting, interprets the pun in a new way by showing monkeys intertwined and protecting one another from evil. The sculpture joins several other pieces of public art at the Plaza, including Gee Horton’s Coming of Age mural, HYBYCOZO – a worldwide series of large-scale geometric installations created by artists Yelena Filipchuk and Serge Beaulieu, and several murals along the base of Kroger Co.’s headquarters.

“The 2020 renovation of Court Street Plaza created new opportunities for public art installations like this one. It is already home to several murals and sculptures and the list continues to grow,” said Christy Samad, Executive Vice President of Civic & Commercial Space Activations for 3CDC. “This collection of outdoor, public artwork is a tribute to local artists and Cincinnati culture that truly enlivens the surrounding area and adds to the ambiance for those visiting the outstanding collection of unique local restaurants or attending events on the Plaza.”

Tsuchiya was selected for the sculpture following a BLINK request for proposals. In reviewing submissions, 3CDC and the Chamber considered stakeholder feedback received during the 2020 renovation of Court Street Plaza, as well as current stakeholders and events, to guide their decision. Tsuchiya’s work can be found throughout the region, where he is known for creating pieces that have a sense of vitality. Inspired by nature and the rich and varied shapes and movements of people and animals, he develops ideas that instill living, breathing qualities in his work.

During BLINK, which will take place Oct. 17-20, speakers will be installed inside the sculpture and the typically ambient lighting will become dynamic and be coordinated to music. Visitors to Court Street Plaza, and more specifically to the Asianati Night Market, during the event are invited to stop by and view the new artwork in person.

To learn more about BLINK, Court Street Plaza, the Asianati Night Market or Tom Tsuchiya, please visit their respective websites below:

• BLINK – https://www.blinkcincinnati.com/
• Court Street Plaza – https://www.courtstreetcincy.com/
• Asianati Night Market – https://www.asianati.com/events/asianati-night-market-at-blink-2024
• Tom Tsuchiya – https://tomsculptor.com/

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