She is known as the "Queen of Polka Dots" and the "Japan Strange Mother-in-law".
At the age of 95 this year, she is still active in the forefront of the art and fashion circles with short fiery red hair and polka dot clothing.
Last year, the collaboration between Yayoi Kusama and the luxury brand LV amazed the world and became a top topic in the fashion circle.
With her iconic patterns and bold colors, Kusama conquered art lovers and the general public across the globe, profoundly influencing contemporary art and pop culture.
Kusama, the name, has long gone beyond the scope of the art world and has become a symbol, a cultural phenomenon, and a representative of life attitude.
Time magazine called her an "epic artist" and The Times named her "The 200 Greatest Artists of the 20th Century".
From 1945 to the present, Kusama's artistic path has spanned more than 70 years of ups and downs, and her "Infinity Mirror House" and "Polka Dot" patterns have become indispensable and iconic elements in contemporary art.
Kusama's creative career is full of legends and controversies, in addition to the dots that made her famous all over the world, she also has many unknown creations that have led the art trend many times.
undressing in front of the Statue of Liberty; peddling art like a hot dog in art galleries in Venice; Leading hippie bodies in protest in front of the church......
The life story of this artistic pioneer is as fantastical as her work.
At the age of 10, he was diagnosed with psychogenic visual impairment and schizophrenia; After World War II, he went to United States alone as a Japanese; went to prison for bold creation; volunteered to live in a psychiatric hospital for more than 40 years; At its peak, it suddenly disappeared......
Along with Nobuyoshi Araki, he was criticized as a representative of Japan bad taste, and he used half a century of artistic creation to prove himself, and witnessed the history of contemporary art with Andy · Warhol, Yoko Ono and other avant-garde artists.
In an exclusive interview with the Bund Pictorial, when talking about those influential figures, she said:
I don't think anyone is more talented than me. I have been devoting all my time to art, and I have devoted all of my original thoughts and ideas to works that represent Yayoi Kusama.
Today, Ashin would like to introduce to you the interpretation album of the retrospective exhibition held by Yayoi Kusama for the first time in China in 2022 - "Yayoi Kusama: From 1945 to the Present".
Yayoi Kusama: From 1945 to the Present
For understanding Kusama, this book is your best entry point.
Yayoi Kusama: From 1945 to the Present
Discover Kusama's legendary artistic journey spanning 70 years
In 2022, the legend landed in Greater China for the first time with her masterpiece, bringing us a feast for the eyes and the soul.
Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now is Kusama's largest retrospective in Asia outside of Japan.
Featuring over 200 works from major museum collections and private collections from Asia, Europe and the United States, the M+ Collection and Kusama's personal collection, it is a unique opportunity to learn more about Kusama.
Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to the Present is a collection of works, authoritative interpretations, and evaluations of Yayoi Kusama's first major retrospective in Asia. This book is a comprehensive review of Kusama's artistic career, as well as a profound analysis of contemporary art.
The book includes Kusama's classic works, with the unique perspective of the first exhibition in Asia, through in-depth interpretation and academic analysis of Kusama's works, you will be able to fully understand the creative context of this master.
You can buy the high-quality content in the exhibition for the price of a ticket to the exhibition, and let Yayoi Kusama's artistic spirit stay with you for a long time. For those readers who were unable to attend the scene in person, it is the best choice to make up for their regrets.
Redefining Kusama's
The impact of artistic practice on contemporary society
After my death, please see the beautiful tomb I have built, which is the happy ending of my life, and know that the sun shines overhead, even in the abyss of sorrow. Today, the energy of a heart that does its best is depleted. That's my art.
In the eyes of the public, Kusama is the "queen of polka dots", and her works have a bold and unique color scheme, full of obsession with tentacles and fruits.
As the world's most popular female artist, Kusama's works are collected by more than 90 art museums, and it is difficult to find a single piece; Yasunari Kawabata has bought her work; Pop art leader Andy Warhol · influenced her to create "The Heads of the Ox......
Kusama has also been invited to collaborate with many brands, such as Chanel, Coca-Cola and other big brands, and her collaboration series with Louis Vuitton has been sought after by many fans.
In 2012, the Louis Vuitton and Yayoi Kusama concept store at Selfridges, London
This popular form of presentation has undoubtedly allowed more people to appreciate her artistic charm. However, this has also led to subtle differences in the understanding between art and the general public.
If we trace Kusama's artistic career from the perspective of art history, we will find that Kusama was a pioneer of various movements and genres: Popism, Minimalism, Environmental/Installation Art, Performance Art, Immersive Art......
Yayoi Kusama peeks at Richard · Castellani Gallery in The House of Infinite Mirrors – Eternal Love, New York, 1966
Accidental Art on the Beach, New York, 1968
"Talking Sideface" (2019)
In this art collection, Yayoi Kusama is presented in the world of art criticism, big-name collaborations, and the public eye, an artistic pioneer who not only has an important position in the field of art, but also leaves a deep impression on the public.
Doryun Chong, Associate Director and Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Visual Museum, M+, notes that Yayoi Kusama is not only a narcissistic artist, but also a social observer who talks to the times through art.
In 1987, Yayoi Kusama in her studio
From her breakthrough creations in the '60s to her prints in the '90s, Kusama's self-portraits and artworks are derived from her in-depth analysis and expression of the self, revolving around the construction and deconstruction of her self-image.
Her art and personal images herald the globalization of contemporary art in Asia and have become a unique phenomenon in contemporary culture.
Kusama often blurs the lines between art and life, and many of her works invite the viewer to participate and experience, thus making them part of artistic practice.
"Infinite Web" (1984) is a performance art performance at Video Gallery SCAN in Tokyo
This interactivity reinforces the connection between art and everyday life, encouraging young people to integrate art into their lives and express their individuality and creativity.
This book combines Kusama's letters and growth experience, and presents Kusama's life and major events in the form of a perspective chronology, and comprehensively restores Kusama's legendary career.
Everything about Yayoi Kusama has the answer here.
Six themes, two perspectives
A book takes you through the first Asian retrospective
The structure of the book is consistent with that of the retrospective, which focuses on six themes of Kusama's artistic career: infinity, accumulation, bio-universe, total connection, death, and the power of life.
These six themes not only run through Kusama's more than 70 years of artistic practice, but also reflect her deep understanding of nature, the cycle of life and the universe.
In addition to tracing the linear evolution of these six themes, the book also pays special attention to the historical context of Kusama's work from the perspective of synchronicity, and attaches a detailed reference chronology.
This perspective combines Kusama's artistic practice with political and historical events such as the Pacific War and the bubble economy, revealing the geopolitical and socio-psychological realities embedded in her work.
This dual perspective reveals the complexity behind Kusama's artistic achievements, helping readers to break free from a series of misconceptions about Kusama, such as understanding her mental illness as her artistic practice, and reducing her status as an artist to a social media phenomenon.
Bio-universe, infinity and death
Growing up in the natural environment of Nagano Prefecture, Kusama has a strong connection to plants and cosmic life.
The Kusama family in the Migahara Highlands in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, photographed in the 40s of the 20th century.
Drawing inspiration from nature, she reveals a vivid world hidden between mysticism and symbolism, such as a wormhole on a peach that reveals the life trajectory of a bug.
Using jute bags instead of canvases, "The Accumulated Earth" reflects adaptability and the power of nature during the post-war period of material shortages.
The Accumulated Earth (1950)
The bio-universe inspired the well-known theme of "infinity" in Kusama's work.
The concept of infinity is related to the instantaneous experience of the natural world, and Kusama connects the patterns of nature with the concept of infinity, emphasizing the rhythm and tension in nature, a theme that is epitomized in The Infinite Web.
Cut-outs from The Infinite Web (1960)
For Kusama, death has great potential significance, and her work constantly explores the boundaries between life and death.
In Kusama's own words, she finds deep meaning in her work by embracing death.
Fully connected
The theme of "Total Connection" embodies Kusama's quest for equality, unity, and human connection. Through the symbolic equality of polka dots, she advocates for universal access to art and the democratization of culture.
In the context of the Viet Nam War, Kusama's performance art such as "Narcissus Garden" not only challenges the conventions of the art market, but also reflects her pursuit of individual dissolution and collective integration.
Narcissus Garden at the Venice Biennale (1966)
Kusama's philosophy of "self-dissolution" further politicizes this connection, requiring individuals to give up their ego in order to achieve equality between people.
By quickly drawing polka dots on nudes in works such as Body Celebration and Body Explosion, she uses body art to express solidarity with marginalized groups in society and protest against war.
accumulate
"Accumulation" is not only a physical stacking of items, but also a kind of psychological and emotional accumulation. The theme of "accumulation" was embodied in Kusama's repetitive stacking of biological forms and sexual organs in her works in the 1980s.
These accumulation sculptures and mirror installations, especially her exploration of the concept of "self-dissolution", provide the viewer with a visual experience liberated from the alienation of modern society, confirming the existence of the individual through infinite reflection and dissolution.
"Accumulated Eyes Singing" (2010)
The power of life
This theme is refined through Kusama's "My Eternal Soul" series.
Blending Kusama's signature fantasy aesthetic with her quest for spiritual harmony of life, "My Eternal Soul" not only demonstrates Kusama's dedication to repetitive motifs, but also reflects her deep understanding of art as a means of self-healing.
The Flame of Life (Dedicated to Du Fu) (1988)
These works show that art, like life itself, is a dynamic and progressive force, and that Kusama herself is always looking for the ultimate channel to become this force.
After experiencing the pain of creative labor, she also found joy, and she wondered, "Can I continue to live?" I'm going to ask about my art. ”
Kusama's unpublished writings and letters
It is the first time it has been released to the public and is highly collectible
This book not only provides an in-depth analysis of Kusama's artistic career, but also reveals for the first time her unpublished books, letters, and original manuscripts.
In Fool Ivan (1955), Yayoi Kusama presents us with an autobiographical personality and experiences that have been unique since childhood.
The Narcissus Garden (1966) is Kusama's exposition of the idea of freedom and accessibility in artistic creation.
She proposes a modern way of practicing art, that is, artists should use modern industry and technology to create, and not just be limited to traditional brushes and chisels.
I think art should be within the affordability of the masses, not for a few wealthy people.
In addition, the book includes an excerpt from Lee Tokyo, a theatrical collage written by Yayoi Kusama, which combines elements of magic, absurdity, and purification of the mind, and explores deep themes of personal identity, social alienation, and inner world, inspired by Kusama's own life experiences and times.
The first page of the original typescript of "Lee Tokyo".
The book also contains valuable correspondence between Yayoi Kusama and many artists and critics.
In her correspondence with Georgia · O'Keeffe, Kusama was not only deeply impressed by the work "Black Iris" by the "mother of modern art in United States", but also recommended her own works, and the two female artists began to talk about each other's works and sympathize with each other.
Letter from Yayoi Kusama to Georgia · O'Keeffe, p. 2, December 13, 1955
These documents record Kusama's life experience in detail, and we can not only appreciate Kusama's extraordinary literary creation endowment, but also see Kusama's spiritual world through a large number of texts.
If you are also interested in Kusama, you must not miss this opportunity for an in-depth conversation.
A double feast of academics and visuals
Inspiration for your creations
Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to the Present is a comprehensive interpretation of Kusama's artistic career and a treasure trove for artists, designers, art lovers, and all those who seek creative inspiration.
The text and illustrations in the book complement each other to create a three-dimensional Yayoi Kusama. From his early works to his mature masterpieces, you can feel the development of Kusama's entire artistic career.
With Lucio · Fontana in Milan, 1966
"Suicide Me" (1977)
Interior view of Infinity Mirror House – Pumpkin (1991).
"The Vision of the Body", Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, 1999
Photograph of Yayoi Kusama with Studio Graf furniture, 2002
Life is Infinite, When the Universe Burns (2014)
Kusama's unique use of color, shape, and space provides designers with a wealth of visual references.
The Room of Ablation, commissioned by the Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, 2002
The arrangement, combination, subversion, and installation of polka dots, as well as the bold and avant-garde color scheme, turn the iconic elements with a strong style into fashion symbols, and stimulate people's infinite imagination.
Every flip through is a new discovery.
Self-Ablation No. 3 (1967)
"Polka Dot House of Love" (November 1967)
As an artist who has always stood at the forefront of the art world, she has overcome and fulfilled herself, and started her own "Kusama Yayoi era".
Yayoi Kusama sings the poem "Song of the Manhattan Suicide Attempt Habitual Offender"
Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to the Present
The artist of the world, the masterpiece of a lifetime
Infinite, accumulative, bio-universe
Total connection, death, the power of life
The autobiography of Yayoi Kusama
A biography of the Queen of Polka Dot in Chinese