I recently added a new piece to my art collection during a visit to nuunu in Kyoto: a striking minimalist painting by Japanese artist Kyoko Matsumoto. This artwork captivated me with its simplicity and depth. Originally published by the artist on June 1, 2021, the piece is a beautiful exploration of form and emotion.

The Painting

The painting is a study in minimalism, featuring a single lowercase “i”. To the left, three smaller vertical strokes echo the main form, adding a subtle rhythm to the composition. In the top right corner, a red stamp with Japanese characters (likely the artist’s seal) adds a traditional touch. The overall effect is one of quiet elegance, where every element feels deliberate and meaningful. The simplicity of the design draws you in, inviting you to find depth in its restraint.

Artist’s Motivations

Kyoko Matsumoto shared her thoughts about this piece in a post on June 1, 2021, which she titled the “day of ‘i’”. She wrote:

“On June 1st, ‘I’ It starts with a single line, at an exquisite timing ✨ The feeling of standing quietly and delicately, with a sense of depth… Both people and objects, their presence speaks volumes. A slightly emotional start to June ( ◠‿◠ )”

She sees the single line of the “i” as a symbol of presence. One stroke, and it carries all that weight. Her broader practice works the same way: rough sketches and experiments that become refined pieces. The gallery at nuunu Kyoto had some of her process work on display too.

Why I Bought It

What got me was the reversal. Western artists are always captivated by Japanese characters, right? They see kanji and think “that’s art”. But here’s Kyoko Matsumoto, a Japanese artist from Fukuoka, doing the same thing with our letter “i”. She finds beauty in a form that’s completely mundane to us. That flip hit me.

We all find beauty in what feels foreign. She just made that very obvious with a single letter.