Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Jun Iseyama. It dates from 2003 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2003 by Jun Iseyama, this drawing combines pencil, colored pencil, ink, and colored ink on transparent paper layered over colored paper.
Created in 2003 by Jun Iseyama, this drawing combines pencil, colored pencil, ink, and colored ink on transparent paper layered over colored paper. Its fragile, translucent support allows underlying hues to subtly influence the surface, creating a sense of depth through layered color rather than opaque application. The work is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection, reflecting its interest in experimental drawing practices of the early 21st century.
Subject & Meaning
Two abstracted human forms entwine in a dynamic, ambiguous embrace—one elongated and sinuous, the other sprawling and fragmented. The lack of defined features invites interpretation beyond literal representation, suggesting physical or emotional entanglement. The vivid orange and red accents on the lower figure may imply heat, tension, or vitality, contrasting with the cooler, muted tones of the background and surrounding lines.
Technique & Style
Iseyama employs loose, overlapping lines to construct form and shadow, avoiding rigid outlines in favor of accumulative mark-making. Cross-hatching and layered washes of colored ink build texture, particularly along the serpentine figure, while the transparency of the paper allows colors from the base sheet to bleed through, softening edges and unifying the composition. The sketch-like quality belies deliberate control over tonal gradation.
History & Provenance
The work entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, acquired as part of a broader effort to document contemporary drawing practices that challenge traditional media boundaries. Its use of transparent materials and layered color aligns with experimental approaches emerging in the early 2000s, particularly among artists exploring the materiality of paper and the fluidity of line.
Context
Created during a period when many artists were redefining drawing beyond graphite on paper, Iseyama’s use of transparent supports and mixed media reflects a wider interest in material experimentation. The work resonates with contemporaneous practices that prioritize process and impermanence, positioning drawing not as preparatory but as a complete, self-sufficient medium.
Legacy
Untitled contributes to an evolving understanding of drawing as a medium capable of complex spatial and chromatic layering. Its inclusion in MoMA’s collection has helped legitimize non-traditional materials and techniques within institutional narratives of contemporary art, influencing subsequent generations of artists who treat paper not as a surface but as an active component of the image.
Artist & collection
