Stretch White 1981

Sadamasa Motonaga made this painting called ‘Stretch White’ at an unknown date. I'm looking at this painting thinking what a funny cloud! It's so flat and bold against the sky. It's a simple image, yet it has this weird, iconic presence. It also reminds me of artists like Etel Adnan, who similarly played with simplified shapes and color to convey big feelings. The blocky form of the white cloud seems to float there, like it’s just landed. The color palette is really interesting, that deep blue fading into a lighter pinkish hue. There's something calming about the composition. I think this painting really captures something about the feeling of sky, a big open space that lets your mind stretch out. It's as though he's inviting us to dream, to let our imaginations run wild. And in a way, isn't that what painting is all about?