Untitled 

Editor: This striking untitled artwork is by Jiro Yoshihara. It looks like ink and acrylic on either paper or canvas, and features a dominating black circle. I’m struck by its raw simplicity and the way it occupies so much of the space. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The circle, a universal symbol, here pulses with raw energy, doesn’t it? Consider the Ouroboros, the serpent eating its own tail— a potent symbol of cyclicality, of destruction and rebirth, the eternal return. Do you see a similar theme playing out? Editor: I hadn't thought of the Ouroboros, but I can see how the circle embodies a sense of never-endingness. Does the artist's Japanese background influence this imagery? Curator: Absolutely. In Zen Buddhism, the ensō, a hand-drawn circle, represents enlightenment, elegance, and the universe. It’s often open, allowing for movement and development, a visual manifestation of emptiness, or sunyata. Look closely, is the circle complete here? Editor: No, it’s not. There is a distinct break in the form, along with dripping trails of ink. It feels less about perfection and more about...becoming? Curator: Precisely. The imperfection makes it powerfully human. Consider the wabi-sabi aesthetic - beauty in imperfection and impermanence. Yoshihara seems to be capturing a moment of creation, a process of constant change. It's as though the universe itself is taking shape. The circle echoes ancient archetypes and feels charged with symbolic meaning, while it remains decidedly modern and fresh in its abstract simplicity. What’s your feeling about that? Editor: It's fascinating how one simple form can hold so many layers of cultural and personal meaning! I appreciate the connection to both the Zen concept of ensō and the acceptance of imperfection, particularly with those ink drips. Curator: Indeed. It makes one think about the endless potential of a single stroke and how symbols can bridge centuries and cultures.