If there’s someone who can easily be attributed to polka dots, it definitely is Yayoi Kusama. Kusama is a Japanese artist and writer who has worked through a wide variety of media like painting, collage, sculpture, environmental installations and even performance art all exhibiting her inkling on psychedelic colors, and pattern repetition.
Considered widely influenced by contemporaries including Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg, Kusama has been hailed a precursor of the pop art, minimalist and feminist art movements. Sadly, Kusama’s light faded considerably dimmed after turning her back to the New York art scene in the early ‘70s. But now more than ever, Kusama’s been described as one of the most important art luminaries of Japan, not to mention an embodiment of avant-garde.
Born in Matsumoto, Nagano into an upper middle-class family, Kusama developed a deep relationship with the arts studying Nihonga painting in Kyoto in 1948. Kusama has then created a name that is known for producing conceptual art with attributes on feminism, minimalism, surrealism, Art Brut, pop art, and abstract expressionism, married expertly with autobiographical, psychological, and sexual content. In fact, she is also a published novelist and poet, highly noted for her works in film and fashion design.
Recently, Marc Jacobs‘ admiration for the eccentric Japanese artist led him to partner with Kusama’s famous “obsessive character” when they first met in 2006. From this, an exciting collaboration was birthed by the luxury house of Louis Vuitton featuring another round of pumpkin-inspired products.
Kusama notes of this partnership, “Polka dots are a way to infinity.” Kusama’s “Infinity Rooms” is her largest one so far mounted in an exhibition space at the Louis Vuitton Maison on Bond Street. This then ran until June of 2012 and was described in their press release as a series of “immersive environments”. Above all else, Kusama is not just an artist but a writer waiting to be experienced.
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Obsession can only be described in two words - Yayoi Kusama.
In her case, it's polka dots. |
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| In New York City |
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"New year trend?"
Polka dots is all year round. |
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| Yayoi's giant yellow-and-black pumpkin on Naoshima Island, in Japan's inland sea. |
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| Don't be fooled by the hair, she is a design genius by heart. |
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| Window display in Louis Vuitton Hong Kong. |
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| Louis Vuitton and Kusama is equals to contemporary fashion. |
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| Welcome to her world! |
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| Love these Yayoi dolls! |
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| How cute! I hope I can snag some. |
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| Outside Dover Street Market in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. |
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| As Gina Pareno said in the movie "The Reunion" - Connect the dots! |
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| If you think the outside says it all, wait 'till you see what's in store. |
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| One word - magnificent! |
