In Memoriam 1960

Ansei Uchima made this woodblock print titled 'In Memoriam' in 1960, and the process is really right there on the surface. You can see it wasn't about concealing the hand, but embracing the marks of the tool. I’m really drawn to how Uchima creates a sense of depth with these simple lines and shapes. See how the grey and blue hatch marks create a backdrop, almost like a sky, while the black and green shapes float in the foreground? It's like a stage set. The texture isn't just visual; you can almost feel the grain of the wood, the pressure of the blade. The yellow circle, slightly off-center, acts like a sun or a moon. It's imperfect, broken up, but it's the focal point, drawing your eye and holding the composition together. I’m reminded of the work of Agnes Martin, another artist who found profound expression in simplicity and repetition, who worked at a similar time to Uchima. 'In Memoriam' invites us to contemplate the ephemeral nature of life and art, to find beauty in imperfection, and to recognize the profound in the seemingly simple.