The oil paintings of Kazumi Nakamura ¡ª sometimes visually simple as the works of Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko, and at other times as complex as a Jackson Pollock ¡ª are the result of an exploration of the ultimate question of artists: ¡°What is the meaning of a painting?¡±
Nakamura¡¯s answer resulted in ¡°differential painting,¡± based on the idea that an artwork¡¯s meaning exists in its difference to others, and his oils referred to postwar American Abstract Expressionism as well as East Asian styles such as ukiyo-e woodblock prints, shan shui Chinese brush-and-ink landscapes and minhwa Korean folk art.
The National Art Center of Tokyo exhibition splits Nakamura¡¯s work into three chronological periods, illustrating his different explorations over three decades: Paintings as a Space; Paintings as a Social Segment; and Paintings as a Bird; March 19-May 19.
The National Art Center, Tokyo; 7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Nogizaka Stn. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Fri. till 8 p.m.). ?1,000. Closed Tue. 03-5777-8600;
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