Dilapidated Poetry A 1976

This abstract print, Dilapidated Poetry A, made by Hiroyuki Tajima, features layers of geometric shapes and an earthy colour palette. I imagine Tajima working on this print, scraping away at the surface, allowing the shapes to emerge from the ground, each mark a deliberate act of carving and revealing. The texture of the print is palpable, with its rough edges and subtle gradations of colour. The whole thing feels like a ruin, or maybe even the memory of a poem—a collage of fragmented images, a bit like Kurt Schwitters’ Merz collages, where words and images collide. The forms are reduced to their essence and made allusive, hinting at a deeper meaning that is never fully articulated. It’s through this ambiguity that Tajima invites us to participate in the creative process, piecing together our interpretations and finding resonance in the ruins. It is a reminder that art is not just about what we see, but also about how we feel and what we imagine.