The art world has been conquered throughout history by daring, innovative and edgy artists, but very few compare to the enchanting and unique work of Yayoi Kusama, the Queen of Polka Dots. The Japanese artist, born in 1929, has become a sensation for her vibrant, surreal, and infinitely creative work. She has spent the better part of her life expressing her innermost thoughts, fears, and dreams through her art, and her pieces have become some of the most recognizable in contemporary art. Let’s find out who Yayoi Kusama really is and explore her life, art, and legacy.
Polka dots can’t stay alone.
Yayoi Kusama
Early Life and Influences
Yayoi was born in Matsumoto, Japan, to a wealthy family that owned a plant nursery. From an early age, she was fascinated with art and showed a natural talent for drawing and painting. Her parents, however, were unsupportive of her artistic pursuits, and they discouraged her from pursuing a career in art. Despite this, Yayoi continued to create, and her love for art only grew stronger.
At the age of 19, she moved to Kyoto to study traditional Japanese painting. However, she soon became disillusioned with the traditional art world and began to explore new forms of expression. Yayoi was particularly drawn to the works of artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso. Their bold, experimental styles inspired her to create art that was similarly daring and expressive.
In 1958, Yayoi moved to New York City, where she quickly became part of the avant-garde art scene. She was particularly drawn to the emerging pop art movement, which emphasized bright colors, bold patterns, and a sense of playfulness. Yayoi began to experiment with different media, including painting, sculpture, and performance art, and her work began to garner attention for its unique and provocative style.
The Art of Yayoi Kusama
Kusama’s art is known for its use of bright colors, polka dots, and repetitive patterns. Her works are often playful and whimsical, but they also have a sense of darkness and unease. Yayoi has described her art as a way of dealing with her own inner demons, particularly her struggles with mental illness.
I fight pain, anxiety, and fear every day, and the only method I have found that relieves my illness is to keep creating art. I followed the thread of art and somehow discovered a path that would allow me to live.
Yayoi Kusama
One of Kusama’s most iconic works is “Infinity Mirror Rooms”, a mind-blowing and hallucinating artwork. Mirrored walls and floors combined with thousands of glowing lights and objects that hang offer a mesmerizing, but disorienting effect. These immersive installations make the viewers feel that they are floating in space. It is absolutely incredible! Yayoi has created more than 20 different Infinity Mirror Rooms and each of them has a completely unique design and theme.
Yayoi Kusama’s polka dots are the hallmark of her work. She has said that she has been obsessed with dots since she was a child, and that they represent a sense of infinity and endlessness. Yayoi’s dots can be found on everything from paintings and sculptures to clothing and accessories. She has even created a “dot room”, where visitors can experience the immersive effect of being surrounded by polka dots.
One day I was looking at the red flower patterns of the tablecloth on a table, and when I looked up I saw the same pattern covering the ceiling, the windows and the walls, and finally all over the room, my body and the universe. I felt as if I had begun to self obliterate, to revolve in the infinity of endless time and the absoluteness of space, and be reduced to nothingness.
Yayoi Kusama
Kusama has also created a number of sculptures, many of which feature organic, bulbous shapes and vivid colors. Her sculptures often have a sense of whimsy and playfulness, but they also hint at deeper themes of sexuality, power, and desire.
Yayoi’s Legacy
Yayoi has become one of the most influential artists of her generation and she has been celebrated all over the world. Her exciting and vibrant work has been featured in all the largest museums and galleries, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Tate Modern. She has also collaborated with the biggest brand in the world like Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs, reaching to a wider audience.
Kirsty Wigglesworth—AP/Shutterstock.com
Yayoi Kusama’s legacy goes beyond her art, however. She has become a symbol of perseverance and resilience, having faced numerous challenges throughout her life. Yayoi has spoken publicly about her struggles with mental illness, and her art has been seen as a way of coping with her condition. She has also faced discrimination as a woman and as a Japanese immigrant in America, but she has never let these obstacles stop her from pursuing her art.
My life is a dot lost among thousands of other dots.
Yayoi Kusama
Yayoi’s legacy is also one of creativity and innovation. Her work has pushed the boundaries of what is possible in art, and she has been a trailblazer for other artists to follow. Her Infinity Mirror Rooms, in particular, have inspired a new generation of artists to explore immersive installations and interactive art.
The Yayoi Kusama Museum opened in Tokyo, in 2017 and it is dedicated only to her art. You can see there a rotating collection of Yayoi’s works and a permanent dazzling and vibrant Infinity Mirror Room installation. The museum has become an oasis for art lovers from all over the world, and it is the perfect tribute and crowning of the Queen of Polka Dots and her influence on the art world.
Playful and Whimsical
Yayoi Kusama’s art proves the gigantic power of creativity that we possess. Her work is intriguing and complicated, playful and whimsical, profound and unsettling. A wold of endless possibilities was created by Yayoi. Anything is possible in her vivid world and nothing is as it seems at first sight.
It is a world that invites us to explore our own innermost thoughts, fears, and dreams. They key is within us, only our imagination sets the boundaries. If we free our mind, soul and creativity, we -ourselves – can create a world that goes beyond understanding and beyond reality. Yayoi’s art is a reminder that the world is full of wonder and magic, and that we should never stop exploring or creating.
I hope royalty continues forever.
Yayoi Kusama
Cover Photo: Kusama with Pumpkin, 2010 Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/Singapore and Victoria Miro Gallery
