Le temps perdu 1982

Katsuhito Nishikawa’s sculpture, titled “Le temps perdu,” invites us into a quiet space of contemplation. I imagine Nishikawa, somewhere, carefully constructing this piece, choosing to leave the central void open, a frame in search of its picture, or maybe the picture is us, right now. The texture of the frame itself seems rough, almost unfinished, bearing the marks of its making, a little like my own paintings! It’s this kind of honesty with the material that really gets me going – the sense that the artist is exploring alongside us, revealing the vulnerabilities in making. It’s starkness, a kind of visual haiku, so simple, it’s almost nothing – just some edges and a middle. Maybe this work is talking to Agnes Martin, who also understood so well how restraint can open up a whole new space, a new sense of seeing. It whispers about the quiet beauty of simplicity. It's not just about what's there, but what’s intentionally left out. That’s where the real conversation begins.