bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

C.B. Liddell

ISAKU YANAIHARA was no ordinary sitter for  sculptor Alberto Giacometti. Not only was he an important model for the Swiss artist from 1956 to 1961, the Japanese existentialist philosopher was also a close confidant. It has been said that while the master sculptor conducted other affairs in what was a very Parisian or Bohemian arrangement, Yanaihara was to console Giacometti's wife, Annette, with Giacometti's full permission.

'Outside his family, Yanaihara was Giacometti's most important model,' says Mina Lee, the curator of an exhibition touring Japan  that looks at the sculptor's art with particular reference to Yanaihara.  'In total, he posed for Giacometti on  230 days.'

The importance of this contribution can only be fully  realised by considering Giacometti's working methods. When he sculpted, usually in clay or plaster, he worked like a dog chewing a bone, restlessly nibbling away for hours until he broke through to the artistic marrow, which meant arriving at the perfect form that would later be cast into bronze. This lengthy process often required models to  stay still for hours on end.

Only someone with great patience or dedication to Giacometti's art could make this sacrifice.  That's why Giacometti's chief male model was his brother and assistant Diego. It also explains one of the main reasons he married Annette in 1949 - she was one of the few people who could pose for lengthy periods for the fussy sculptor without fidgeting.

Their patience and dedication is commemorated in many of Giacometti's sculptures at the exhibition, including Buste de Diego (1954) and several small elongated nudes based on Annette. But although both these models were patient and dedicated, their modelling ability pales in comparison to  Yanaihara's, who came to Paris in 1955. He met Giacometti through the leader of the existentialist movement, Jean Paul Sartre, a close friend of the sculptor.

'Whereas Annette and Diego wanted to take a break every two hours, Yanaihara never moved,' Lee says. 'It's even said that he had enough patience to pose for 10 hours at a time.'

Another advantage Yanaihara had was his ability to converse with Giacometti, while he worked, on the many intellectual subjects that interested them both.

'They became close very, very quickly,' says Lee. 'Every year, when Yanaihara came to Paris, he would go straight to Giacometti's atelier and pose. He did nothing except  modelling. That's why Giacometti said to him afterwards, 'This work is our work.''

At the exhibition, in addition to two plaster busts of Yanaihara from 1960 and 1961, are several preparatory sketches and oil paintings of the Japanese intellectual, including paintings of Yanaihara from the front and side. These, like most of Giacometti's paintings, portray the subject  emerging from a greyish background. Just like his sculpture, however, they reveal a laborious and time-consuming working method that must have been equally trying for the models.

But Yanaihara not only had the calm patience to put up with Giacometti's artistic perfectionism, he was also an important factor in helping the sculptor get over a difficult artistic period, says Lee.

'In 1956, Giacometti was having trouble about how to see and what to see. With the help of Yanaihara, he found the way out from this difficulty.'

To understand this, it's important to appreciate Giacometti's earlier career.  From 1929 to 1934, Giacometti came under the influence of Andre Breton and the Surrealists and started to create sculptures that showed women as objects, such as Femme Couchee (1929), in which the female form is reduced to a simplified receptacle, and objects that were merely ambiguous and somewhat unnerving, such as Objet desagreable (1931), which looks like a cross between a  sex toy and a medieval torture device.

But Giacometti's interest lay in sincerely depicting the human form, something the Surrealists considered beneath them, leading Giacometti to leave their camp.

His involvement with Surrealism, however, gave him the formal flexibility to approach the depiction of the human form in new ways.

The Nose (1947), a work that combines surrealist and figurative elements, shows how this flexibility allowed him to play with the human form. A head suspended from an open cage is given  a Pinocchio-like nose that reaches out to threaten the viewer, just as our line of vision reaches in. What  Giacometti did to the nose here, he started to do to the human form, creating the increasingly elongated works for which he is now most remembered.

This formal flexibility also allowed him to reinvigorate his approach to busts. In particular, he became interested in the discrepancy between the front view of the head and the profile and the fact that neither can be inferred from the other.

This problem of bringing two separate planes together was also one of the problems tackled by Cubism, a movement Giacometti had been influenced by in his youth. Much of his sculpture from the 1950s is an attempt to deal with this, with the heads becoming increasingly thinner, viewed from the front.

In Buste de Diego (1957), the face seems almost to sit on a knife edge. By standing directly in front we can still get a  recognisable front view of the subject, but by swaying slightly to the left or right we get the beginnings of a profile.

It was at this point, according to Lee, that Giacometti's relationship helped him to find new paths of expression. 'Before, in his busts, we can clearly find the face of Diego. He is focused on the proportions and the technical problems of art. But through his relationship with Yanaihara, we see that he starts to look at art in a more symbolic way.'

Lee says Giacometti switched from creating art as he saw it to creating art as he  synthesised it or felt it in his mind. Although subtle,  this switch was from external references - visual contact with a person - to internal references, intellectual or spiritual contact with a person.

As an example  the curator cites Buste d'Homme (1961) and Buste d'Homme (New York II) (1965), both these works having a more expressive or emotive atmosphere than their predecessors, and giving us a greater sense of how  the sculptor felt about them.

Exhibitions of western art in Japan often go out of their way to 'prove' a Japanese connection. This is particularly the case with exhibitions of the Impressionists and Vincent Van Gogh. But this is one exhibition where the focus on the Japanese influence is well founded and valid.

Alberto Giacometti and  Isaku Yanaihara; Museum of Modern Art, Hayama, until Jul 30. Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Aug 8-Oct 1. Kawamura Memorial Museum of Art,  Oct 10-Dec 3



Ahead by a nose