Trikona 1994

Katsuhito Nishikawa created Trikona, a contemplative architectural intervention made with simple, unadorned walls. The stark, light-filled gallery space is interrupted by a sequence of doorways, each receding into the next. The material is essential: the very plainness of the plaster emphasizes the importance of light and shadow. There’s a kind of labor present in the making of this structure. The handwork required to create those smooth planes is evident, though it is not immediately visible. Nishikawa has engaged with the tradition of minimalist art here, but also the practice of building itself. Ultimately, the artwork highlights the convergence of art, craft, and design. Nishikawa’s engagement with the simple materiality and the work of building is a subtle commentary on the constructed nature of space itself.