Rappa-Shu (Trumpeter) XV 1959

Tadashi Nakayama made this abstract print titled 'Rappa-Shu (Trumpeter) XV' in Japan in 1959. Nakayama came to maturity as an artist in the post-war period. The mood in the art world was one of reflection and experimentation with traditional forms. Here the artist uses a range of visual codes and cultural references. The title 'Trumpeter' suggests a connection to musical performance, perhaps alluding to the role of art in speaking truth to power. Look at the arrangement of forms: do they suggest figures, landscapes, or perhaps even musical notation? Considering the social conditions that shaped its production, we might ask: did Nakayama’s art engage with the dominant institutions of his time, or did it challenge existing social norms? The resources to answer this question would include gallery catalogues, press reviews, and the artist’s own statements. What is clear is that Nakayama invites us to reflect on the meaning of art as something contingent on its social and institutional context.