Schelpen 1937

This abstract print of shells was created by Koshiro Onchi, but we don't know exactly when. When I look at this print, I see an artist who is unafraid to embrace the unknown. The inky black form anchors the composition but the other elements seem to float around it, creating a sense of depth and movement. I imagine Onchi carefully carving each shape into a woodblock, then inking the blocks and pressing them onto the paper. The textures seem alive, full of subtle nuances and variations. The deep blue squiggle is particularly captivating; it looks like it could be a playful mark made in one swift gesture. But maybe it was very slow and considered. There’s a conversation happening here, between the artist and the materials. Each mark is a response to the one before, a dialogue that unfolds over time. For Onchi, as with many artists, the act of painting is an act of discovery.