Work 1964

"Work" by Tsuruko Yamazaki is a painting of flat areas of color and gestural marks made with luscious poster paint. Imagine Yamazaki, brush in hand, coaxing the paint across the surface, letting one shape bleed into the next. The whole painting is a balancing act between big, bold shapes of red and blue and messy, colorful, almost scribbled areas. I like to imagine what it was like to make this painting. I can picture the artist stepping back, squinting, trying to decide if a particular curve was right or wrong. I'm especially drawn to the bottom of the painting. There are so many small details there that feel like a playground for the eyes. You can see all sorts of strange shapes and colors that seem to buzz with energy. It reminds me a little bit of Joan Mitchell, but, you know, more lighthearted. All artists are in dialogue with each other across time. Yamazaki’s playful exploration of form and color is a perfect example of painting as an ongoing conversation. Each artist contributes their own unique voice, inspiring new ways of seeing and experiencing the world.