IMG 6134 1986

This ink drawing was made by Katsuhito Nishikawa, born in 1949. In it we see what appears to be a tree, or perhaps a seed pod. The form is built of repeated ovoid shapes. The single, isolated tree carries a symbolic weight echoing back through art history. Consider the Tree of Life in ancient Mesopotamian art, often depicted with stylized, repeating patterns. Or, in Christian iconography, the tree in the Garden of Eden, a motif laden with notions of knowledge, sin, and redemption. This isolated, barren tree may tap into our collective memory, evoking a sense of loss, but also resilience. Even in its starkness, there is a beauty, a testament to the enduring power of nature and the cyclical rhythms of life and death. The repeated elements also bring to mind a kind of multiplication and regeneration. In this, we glimpse the continuous resurgence and evolution of symbols across cultures.