Round Green 1979

Editor: So, this is Sadamasa Motonaga's "Round Green" from 1979, an acrylic on canvas. It reminds me of a quirky planet floating above some jagged land. What stands out to you about it? Curator: I immediately consider the labour embedded in this seemingly simple image. Think about the act of applying flat, uniform colours – especially in the pre-digital age. There’s an undeniable emphasis on process here, the deliberate, repetitive actions necessary to achieve this effect. This labour contrasts sharply with the almost cartoonish appearance, hinting at a commentary on mass production and artistic value. The "flat colour" creates the illusion of mechanical production. Editor: I see what you mean. The flatness does seem intentional, pushing against the idea of the artist's 'touch'. Curator: Exactly! And consider the acrylic paint itself. A relatively new medium in 1979, readily available, affordable, almost democratizing. It allowed Motonaga to break away from traditional oil painting, both technically and symbolically. Were new types of paint enabling artists to take different paths and experiment with non-traditional forms, in the post-war era? Editor: That’s a great point. The material choice reflects a changing art world. I hadn't considered how acrylic paint itself might have opened new avenues for artistic expression and also contributed to new values in the marketplace. Curator: Consider that this work exists alongside a flourishing Pop Art scene, it can be seen as challenging elitist notions of "high" art through its seemingly 'low' brow aesthetic. The materials and production process themselves contribute to this questioning. What are your closing thoughts? Editor: I now realize that the image is not the result of 'minimal' effort, and that the use of the industrial acrylic opens it up to new ways to interpret the art, placing Motonaga at a very specific place and time.