Plate 2010

Okada Yūji made this plate, which seems to be made with layers of pressed paper, as a kind of experiment. I like to think of artmaking as a conversation with materials. The surface has got this amazing texture, like corrugated cardboard only much finer, with rivulets of color running across it, like the tide going out on a beach. I love the tension between the overall grid and the way those lines seem to want to wiggle and misbehave. Look at how the light catches those little ridges and valleys, creating a sense of depth and movement. It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, but with a bit more funk. Both artists are interested in the subtle variations within a strict format, but Yūji brings a kind of playful energy to the work that really speaks to me. It just goes to show that art can be both serious and fun, and that there's always room for experimentation.