Most of the action in the art world takes place out of the public eye in small, discreet galleries like the one run and owned by Noriko Togo, catering to the sophisticated tastes of a well-heeled clientele. Togo shows me around her gallery's latest exhibition, "Beyond the Visible World," which brings together 37 works by 24 artists, both past and present.
François Rouan's "Topomiro, stil de grain" (1998), top, currently displayed at Togo Fine Art, a gallery owned and managed by Noriko Togo, above.Drawing its contents from diverse sources, this exhibition, not surprisingly, defies easy categorization. But for me, a common thread suggests itself in the idea that many modern artists are chronic underachievers, who fail to use their techniques to the maximum of their abilities. As a case in point, I mention "Couple" (1995) by the French painter Michel Haas, a work on coarsely textured paper, with indistinct patches of clotted, blistered and peeling paint suggestive of two figures.