About the Object

Like many of Sato’s works, this painting showcases the artist’s love for the environment of his native Hawaiian landscape. The monochromatic gray palette of his New York days yielded to brilliant colors, inspired by the ecology of Hawaii, but also the atomic age. Taking inspiration from the ocean, Sato conveys an underwater scene that places the viewer below the surface, looking up at the sun from the sand below. The focal point is a coral-like structure, absorbing the sunlight in its center and opening on the sea floor into a shape that evokes a mushroom cloud. Although abstract, the artist is able to represent his subject through bold brushstrokes that create textures and patterns, as well as a rich color palette, particularly the aquamarine blue and brilliant orange.

Additional Information

Sato’s early work focused on abstractions of New York City, especially the subway, which was a revelation to him. Once he began splitting his time between New York, Hawaii, and Japan, his art evolved to reflect these changing environments. In 1960, Sato settled in Honolulu, where he was a founding member of the “Metcalf Chateau,” a group of seven Asian American pioneers of modern art in Hawaii. The group shaped much of Hawaii’s modern art aesthetics, which are often associated with abstract expressionism.