Work 1964

Tsuruko Yamazaki made this painting called "Work" using oils, and I'm immediately struck by its playful approach. It's like she's having a conversation with the paint itself. The materiality of this work is really something. The paint application is confident, generous even, with these big blooming shapes. There's a kind of joyful abandon in the way the colors interact, a bright red, a solid blue, set against a cotton candy pink. Look at the bottom of the image, where a sort of hectic party is taking place, a jumble of lines and colors that somehow manage to balance the calmer, larger shapes above. It reminds me a bit of Joan Mitchell, in its willingness to embrace chaos and find beauty in the mess. Ultimately, it's a painting that celebrates the messy, unpredictable nature of art and life.