Nest of the Small Birds 1957

Editor: This is Jun'ichiro Sekino’s "Nest of the Small Birds," a woodblock print from 1957. The composition is striking; it's almost architectural with these intersecting lines and stark geometric shapes. What do you see in this piece, especially regarding its materials and construction? Curator: It's tempting to only read the geometry, but focusing on the material aspects is crucial. Consider the labor involved in woodblock printing: the carving, the inking, the precise alignment required for each impression. The 'nest' becomes less about birds and more about the artist's deliberate construction through repetitive processes. What happens to our interpretation when we think about it less as abstraction and more as *making*? Editor: So, rather than just a composition, it's a record of a physical act, labor, even? Does the printmaking medium itself impact how we should understand abstraction in this case? Curator: Precisely! And that act, repeated precisely with slight variation and inevitable misalignments, becomes the content. These aren't flawless lines from a computer; they evidence the hand, the material. Notice how Sekino embraces the inherent qualities of the wood itself in the grain. Also consider the post-war social context. Artists were grappling with new methods of production and Sekino seems very aware of his artistic decisions within that paradigm. What sort of message does this medium send when creating abstract geometric works? Editor: That's fascinating. I was initially drawn to the design, but now I'm thinking about the artist’s choice of this particular printmaking method and what that says about valuing craftsmanship. It highlights the value and even struggle embedded in the artmaking process. Curator: Indeed. By emphasizing the material and the process, Sekino subtly challenges conventional definitions of high art and crafts. Thinking through materials enables a more complete vision. Editor: This has given me a whole new perspective on how to appreciate not only this artwork but the hand of the artist embedded in the works themselves! Thank you!