Rappa-Shu (Trumpeter) VIII 1959

Tadashi Nakayama made "Rappa-Shu (Trumpeter) VIII," a print, in 1959. Look at how he allows the colors to sit next to each other without blending too much, like he's letting the process show itself. I think of art-making as a kind of conversation between the artist, the materials, and the idea. This piece feels so playful because of the texture of the printmaking process. The colors, red, blue, yellow and black are flat, but the texture around the shapes are dappled, and almost speckled. There's one particular area, near the center, where red lines with dots form a kind of dancing figure, reaching out from a cloud of black. It is both contained within the composition but also free in its gesture. I think of Joan Miró and his constellation paintings when I look at this. Both artists share a love for simple forms and bright colors. Art is like a big, ongoing party line, with everyone chiming in and adding their own flavor. It’s not about getting to a final answer, but about keeping the conversation buzzing.