White and Brown 1972

Kenzo Okada made this painting called ‘White and Brown’ with some muted colors and careful applications of paint. I like to think of painting as a process of layering and revealing. Looking closely, you can see these subtle shifts in tone and texture. The way Okada handles the paint—thinly applied in some areas, built up in others—creates a surface that feels both delicate and substantial. Take a look at the top left corner. Notice how the soft lilac rectangle plays against the warmer beige behind it. It’s a gentle tension, a quiet conversation between colors that keeps the eye moving. It’s like the painting is breathing. Okada reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin, especially in the way he uses subtle color and delicate touch to create a sense of calm and contemplation. Of course, it’s just one way of seeing it, and that's the beauty of art—it's always open to new interpretations.