Abacus

1974
(Japanese, 1922–1989)
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location: not on view

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Description

Without the title, the abstract forms repeated throughout this composition would have little meaning to Western eyes, but the lozenge shape of the beads strung on the rod of an abacus has been a part of everyday life in Japan for more than a millennium, and would easily be identified in this symbolic guise. The black-and-white pattern further enhances the reference to the mathematical tool, suggestive of the rhythmic clicking of the beads striking one another when they slide into place during calculations.
Abacus

Abacus

1974

Sekine Yoshio

(Japanese, 1922–1989)
Japan, 20th century

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