Untitled 2014

This untitled painting by Yui Yaegashi looks like it was made with acrylic or maybe gouache, judging by the matte surface and the way the colours sit. I’m really drawn to the horizontal stripes and their subtle variations. There’s something meditative about the process of laying down these lines, each one slightly different in width and tone. If you look closely, you can see the texture of the canvas coming through, especially in the lighter areas. It's a reminder of the physical act of painting, the way the brush moves across the surface. Notice that little yellow rectangle punctuating the end of each stripe? I find it so satisfying; it’s a tiny burst of energy that really wakes up the whole composition. The overall effect is one of quiet harmony, almost like a musical score. Agnes Martin comes to mind, but with a touch more warmth. Yaegashi is playing with simplicity, but creating something really complex. Art like this is a reminder that meaning comes from looking closely.