Sakuhin 1978

Sadamasa Motonaga made this painting, Sakuhin, using synthetic polymer paint on canvas. This painting, it’s like… if Magritte and Miró had a baby, and that baby was a volcano! I imagine Motonaga in his studio, wrestling with these shapes. The cloud, or thought bubble—but what's with the fuzzy halo? The colors are so smooth, like he’s trying to trick us into thinking this explosion is gentle, or even friendly. I bet he wanted to embrace the freedom to play, and to mix seriousness with humor, and the known with the unknown. I mean, that little ladder—what’s that about? Is someone trying to escape, or are they going to try and climb *into* the cloud? Motonaga’s work reminds us that painting is a language, and these colours are in conversation with each other, creating a moment of pure, painted joy.