IMG 6136 1986

Katsuhito Nishikawa made this drawing, IMG 6136, at an unknown date. He seems to be mapping something out, making one quite precise drawing of a four-leafed flower, or maybe it's an x shape? It’s like he has this perfect image in his head, but only allows himself this one shot to capture it. Look how Nishikawa builds up the line around the shape, almost like a hedge. It’s the only dark mark on the page, creating a sense of depth around it. It’s almost like the flower is a mirage, just a floating impression made up of light and dark. The rest of the image is just a trace, a faint echo of this bolder form. I think this is about process, about the effort to bring something out of nothing. This reminds me of Agnes Martin's drawings, using a light touch to make big statements. Art is all about the conversation between artists and artworks, constantly building upon each other. There's no one way to see or understand it.