Nanigos 1927

Adja Yunkers made this print called Nanigos, around 1927. It's all about shapes and shades! Black and white, and a sort of pale grey work together here to make an image which is like a puzzle. I'm seeing figures that seem to be dancing or in costume. Do you see a rooster in there too? What I love about this image is how shapes and colors build up form—it’s not just about filling in outlines, but thinking through how each bit interacts with the other. When I look at this work, I can't help but think about the process. The artist is in an ongoing conversation with the materials, learning as they go. I bet that each mark made by the artist leads to another, and Yunkers is following the logic of the image. Maybe this piece is connected to the artist’s own life, their own journey, the things they’ve seen and felt. Each painting is an experiment and also an attempt to find out something new, not just about the world but about oneself.