Into Space 3 1957

Editor: Here we have Kazuo Nakamura's "Into Space 3," painted in 1957 using acrylic. There’s something calming, yet strangely active, about this pattern of lines. It reminds me of rain, somehow… How would you interpret this work? Curator: Given its creation in 1957, amidst the burgeoning space race and anxieties surrounding Cold War technology, I find it crucial to consider the "making" of this "space." The layering of acrylic suggests a repetitive process. What kind of labor went into creating these lines? Does the title "Into Space" hint at mass production and repetitive work performed in that period? Editor: That’s interesting… I was just thinking about the lines themselves. Is the repetitive act of creating those lines an important component? Curator: Exactly. What is interesting is that the painting, in some way, hints at a production line and, at the same time, evokes some natural phenomena like rain as you indicated earlier. I wonder if Nakamura hints that technological innovation mirrors and thus "consumes" our understanding of nature and organic entities. Editor: So, instead of seeing just an abstract image, we can consider it as a reflection on labor, materials, and their cultural meaning in that period. Curator: Precisely! Looking at the materiality reveals the deeper societal currents flowing beneath the surface of abstraction. Editor: I will never look at an abstract piece the same way again. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! Always remember to think of the material and what creating this object means in social and economic terms.