Small Fish 1962

Sanyu's 'Small Fish' presents a horizon of colour blocks layered in oil paint, a composition that evokes a sense of serene contemplation. The painting is structured into three distinct horizontal bands: a murky, dark green expanse at the top, a golden-yellow middle, and a striated green and blue section at the bottom. These blocks are not uniform; the brushstrokes are evident, lending a tactile quality to the otherwise abstract planes of colour. The strategic deployment of colour is a key structural element, each block contributing to a balanced yet dynamic visual field. Sanyu’s use of colour and form reduces the scene to its elemental components, creating a space for reflection on the interplay between abstraction and representation. 'Small Fish' may appear to be simple but it is complex.