untitled 2015

Yui Yaegashi created this untitled painting on canvas, measuring about 18 by 10 centimeters. It's an arrangement of pink rectangles, separated by white lines, which appears to explore spatial relationships and color theory. Working in Japan, Yaegashi is part of a generation of artists responding to a globalized art world, often engaging with the legacy of minimalism and abstraction, movements that questioned traditional artistic values and the role of institutions. In post-war Japan, these ideas resonated with a culture grappling with modernization and Western influence. Yaegashi's choice of simple geometric forms and a limited color palette can be seen as a commentary on consumer culture and a rejection of the excesses found in contemporary art. Her work encourages us to reconsider the very structures that define what art is. The meaning of art constantly shifts with its social and institutional context. By examining the cultural and economic conditions, alongside gallery records and critical responses, we can gain a richer understanding of Yaegashi's contribution to contemporary art.