Oriental Wall 1970

Hiroyuki Tajima made this artwork, Oriental Wall, using a printmaking technique that involves carving into a surface. I can imagine Tajima carefully cutting away at the block, creating these rough-hewn textures and geometric forms. What was he thinking about when he created this composition of earthy green and blue hues, anchored by a deep brown frame? There’s a particular vertical rectangle filled with light blue that captures my attention. It seems to radiate, as if lit from within. It reminds me of Agnes Martin's subtle grids and quiet meditations. I wonder if Tajima was also exploring the meditative qualities of simple forms and color relationships. Ultimately, artists are in a constant conversation with one another, across time and cultures, inspiring new ways of seeing and feeling. Oriental Wall invites us to contemplate the dialogue between tradition and innovation, representation, and abstraction.