Impression of Small Monument 1975

Hiroyuki Tajima made this piece, Impression of Small Monument, using a printmaking process, and the way he’s layered these shapes and colours really sings to me of artmaking as a journey. The texture in this artwork is really intriguing. The blues are somber and dark, while the gold leaf pops, giving it a regal, yet mysterious edge. I’m particularly drawn to the rectangular shape in the center of the image, a constellation of white and pale blue, framed with a rippling texture. You can see, it’s like he's building something up, letting it breathe. There is a sense of looking at something through frosted glass. This piece reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, particularly in how both artists use abstraction to hint at deeper, more personal meanings. For me, this piece evokes a world of contemplation.