Yayoi Kusama, 1929-
By Kayleigh Wiseman
Yayoi Kusama and art, photographed by Noriko Takasugi
Until recently, my appreciation for Yayoi Kusama's art was somewhat superficial. While I enjoyed capturing an 'Instagram-worthy' moment within the Tate's Infinity Rooms and was excited over another Louis Vuitton artist collaboration, I didn't quite grasp the significance of her work until learning more about her life and influences. Born on March 22, 1929, in Matsumoto, Japan, Yayoi Kusama has emerged as a leading figure in contemporary art. Her work includes installations, sculptures, paintings, performances, fashion, poetry, and video art, all filled with autobiographical, psychological, and sexual themes. Recognized as one of Japan's most important contemporary artists, Kusama holds the accolade of being the world's top-selling female artist and the most successful living artist globally.
Kusama's artistic journey began with childhood drawings centred on flowers, pumpkins, and wildlife, which were influenced by her early hallucinations. These visions, which she describes as "flashes of light, auras, or dense fields of dots" since the age of 10, shaped her artistic vision. Kusama describes how flowers would speak to her and fabric patterns would come alive, a process she defines as 'self-obliteration.' However, her creative pursuits faced resistance from her mother, who not only discouraged her but also subjected her to a traumatic upbringing filled with abuse.
Despite these challenges, Kusama pursued her artistic dreams. She initially studied traditional Nihonga painting at the Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and Crafts but later gravitated towards European and American abstract impressionism, fuelled by courage from letter correspondence with the celebrated Georgia O'Keeffe. In 1958, Kusama moved to New York City, immersing herself in the avant-garde scene of the sixties. Her radical conceptual art performances, often featuring naked bodies and soft sculptures adorned with phallic protrusions, gained attention.
Kusama's journey in New York was not without its frustrations, as some of her contemporaries, including Claes Oldenburg and Andy Warhol, stole her artistic ideas and received the sole recognition, leaving her feeling depressed, paranoid, and suicidal. These experiences, compounded by racism and sexism prevalent in the art world, contributed to Kusama's mental health struggles. Nonetheless, Kusama's resilience and artistic vision persevered. Her work is widely celebrated, with her pieces exhibited in institutions worldwide and her iconic Infinity Rooms captivating audiences globally. She is a symbol of artistic strength, inspiring countless artists, and viewers.
To conclude, behind Kusama’s iconic bob and quirky artistic persona, is an even more unstoppable spirit. As she celebrates her 95th birthday, we celebrate her groundbreaking contributions to the artistic discourse, which have made her an icon in contemporary art history.
Bibliography
Davis, Charlotte. “Yayoi Kusama: 10 Facts Worth Knowing on the Infinity Artist.” The Collector. Published October 18, 2023. https://www.thecollector.com/yayoi-kusama-the-infinity-artist/.
Lee, SooJin. “The Art and Politics of Artists’ Personas: The Case of Yayoi Kusama.” Persona Studies 1, no. 1 (2015): 25–39. https://doi.org/10.21153/ps2015vol1no1art422.