Bottles at the Bar 1978

This work, “Bottles at the Bar” by Hiroyuki Tajima, presents these earthy tones and blocky shapes, and immediately I wonder about the artist's process. You can sense Tajima carefully carving out each shape to create a scene, a world, almost like set design. I imagine him thoughtfully considering each shape, each color, layering them in a way that feels both intentional and intuitive. There is a dialogue going on between the artist and the materials, a push and pull between control and chance. These vertical shapes could be bottles, but they are also architectural, like standing stones. The thin lines seem to be holding everything in place. Tajima is playing with composition and perception. It's almost like he's inviting us to piece together the puzzle, to create our own narrative within the space he has crafted. It reminds me of Stuart Davis playing with signs and shapes, or Lois Dodd's quiet, pared back still life.