Passage de Fuego 1961

Manabu Mabe made this painting, Passage de Fuego, with what looks like oil on canvas. The striking color palette, dominated by a deep, fiery red, feels emotional and raw, like the process of making art. Looking closely, you can see how Mabe layers the paint, building up texture and depth. There are areas where the paint is thick and opaque, almost sculptural, contrasting with thinner, more transparent washes. Note the swirling, energetic brushstrokes and how they create a sense of movement and dynamism. The thick white impasto mark near the centre of the image gives the sense of being molten and almost moving in time. Mabe's exploration of abstraction and gesture reminds me of some of Franz Kline’s work, especially in its bold use of black and white against a strong background. Like Kline, Mabe seems interested in the sheer physicality of paint and how it can convey emotion and energy through abstract forms. Neither artist is trying to illustrate the world, but find new ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing it.