Colour as a Shadow 2005

Katsuhito Nishikawa made "Colour as a Shadow" with thin washes of green paint. I imagine the painting coming into being layer by layer, like building a mood. The artist slowly, subtly working the surface until it’s just right. I sympathize with that artist. We're both trying to get something from the inside of our heads out onto a surface in the world. But what was he thinking when he made this? It looks like he wasn't trying to capture an image or a scene. Instead, he’s trying to capture a feeling, a sensation, or a moment. That shimmering green makes me think of quiet gardens and secret places. The thin paint seems to glow from within, offering endless possibilities for interpretation. We can see this interest in color and light across Nishikawa’s wider work, just as Rothko explored similar themes of light and color in his abstract expressionist paintings. Painting is a conversation that stretches across time. It's like a big, messy, beautiful dialogue between artists.