When you have had a bad day, you might want to close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine your happy place. You either imagine yourself resting on a hammock on a beach, sitting peacefully on a hill, or lying on the grass in a flowery meadow. In a way, that is what Yayoi Kusama did.
Kusama’s troubled youth may have caused her to close her eyes, take a deep breath and the sights that brought her peace also led to her becoming one of the most celebrated artists of our time. And what did she imagine? Polka dots!
“After all, well, moon is a polka dot, sun is a polka dot, and then, the earth where we live is also a polka dot.”
Kusama grew up in Japan. Her parents did not have a happy marriage which affected her childhood. By the time she was 10 years old, she began having hallucinations. She had visions that involved lots and lots of dots.
“With just one polka dot, nothing can be achieved. In the universe, there is the sun, the moon, the earth, and hundreds of millions of stars. All of us live in the unfathomable mystery and infinitude of the universe. Pursuing ‘philosophy of the universe’ through art under such circumstances has led me to what I call ‘stereotypical repetition.’”
Since her artistic inclinations were not encouraged at home, she would hide pages on which she painted. Sometimes, she would even paint dots on pumpkins from the kitchen or things in her room.
“Since my childhood, I have always made works with polka dots. Earth, moon, sun and human beings all represent dots; a single particle among billions.”
When she grew older, she was sent to work in a factory in Japan during the Second World War. Ironically, this was the time when she began to ponder on notions like freedom of self and expression.
“I wanted to start a revolution, using art to build the sort of society I myself envisioned.”
She moved to the United States during the famous hippie movement and even associated with the cause to some extent.
“New York is the place that made my and other artists’ dreams come true by giving us a chance to realise our ideas and concepts. It was a great place for making a presentation of artistic creation.”
She was a protege of Georgia O’Keeffe who is known as the mother of American modernism. Eventually, she went on to make the kind of avant-garde work that she is known for today.
“My art originates from hallucinations only I can see. I translate the hallucinations and obsessional images that plague me into sculptures and paintings.”
Today, modern art museums wait to schedule her “Infinity Room” exhibitions for which tickets sell like hotcakes. One of the popular installations in the “Infinity Room” is a room completely made up of mirror walls, floor and ceilings. The room is dark but strings of led dot lights light up the room making the visitor feel like they are in the centre of a constellation full of dots. This spectacular installation even became “Insta-famous” with many influencers visiting the exhibit for beautiful photo-ops.
“I think I will be able to, in the end, rise above the clouds and climb the stairs to Heaven, and I will look down on my beautiful life.”
It is not just Instagram. She has established herself in the fashion industry with her collaboration with Louis Vuitton for the signature Louis Vuitton X Yayoi Kusama collection of handbags.
“The reason I collaborate with Louis Vuitton is that Louis Vuitton is number one in the world, and I am honoured to work with them.”
Kusama found a balance between being lost in her artistry and simultaneously finding herself through it. A true inspiration when it comes to embracing your quirks, finding value in them and translating them for the world to appreciate.
Yayoi Kusama’s life and art are a testament to the boundless possibilities of creativity. Through reports of events in her early fascination with polka dots, her artistic struggles, her avant-garde fashion, and her immersive installations, we gain a deeper understanding of the artist who redefined the concept of infinity and the infinite. Kusama’s legacy serves as a reminder that art knows no bounds and can transcend mental health challenges, age, and societal norms. She continues to inspire people around the world to see the beauty in the repetitive patterns of life and to embrace the infinite possibilities of creativity. Yayoi Kusama, the queen of polka dots and infinite imagination, remains an enduring icon in the realm of contemporary art.
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