THIS WEEK’S MUSE
YAYIO KUSAMA
“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.”
Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist whose conceptual art is infused with psychological, autobiographical, and sexual narrative.
Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama came to prominence in 1960s New York, developing a wide-ranging creative art practice that embraced installation, painting, sculpture, and fashion.
She describes her inspiration as coming from the cruelty she suffered at the hands of her mother. As a teenager “my mother beat me and kicked me on the derriere every day,” she said later,” irritated that I was always painting.”
Because of her mother’s opposition to her daughter’s desire to paint—claiming such behavior would bring shame on the family—Kusama suffered a breakdown and undertook psychiatric treatment for depression.
As a part of her recovery process, she began incorporating her hallucinations and fears into her paintings, a process that became the foundation of her work and remains to this day. Art enables her to flight her demons – to “take back control.”
“My art originates from hallucinations only I can see.
All my works in pastels are the products of obsessional neurosis and are therefore inextricably connected to my disease.”
She moved away from Japan in 1957—planning never to return—and traveled to New York.
On arrival, with a suitcase full of drawings, she went to the top of the Empire State building and promised herself that one day she would conquer the city and become a name in world art.
“I wanted to start a revolution,” she said, “using art to build the sort of society I myself envisioned.” With almost no English and little money, a monumental determination to succeed carried her through.
At the time the ‘action painting’ of de Kooning and Pollock were making the headlines, but Kusama wasn’t interested in their platform.
With her own inspirations flooding her from within, she didn’t want—or need—to connect with the prevailing fashions.
Her work is distinct and unique. She removes the viewer’s ability to focus and in doing so, breaks down the boundaries of a conventional artistic space. In order to experience Kusama’s work, you have to commit to a new space, one that’s often unconstrained by a frame, or by other traditional artistic devices such as form and perspective.
She returned to Tokyo in 1973 and has worked there ever since.
For over twenty years she has voluntarily lived in a facility for mental health, but still works every day in her studio nearby.
Today, she is acknowledged as one of the most important Japanese and is one of the world’s top-selling female artists.
“In front of paint brushes and canvas, my hands react to them and make my work before I think of anything. Then, when the piece is completed, I look at it, and am surprised by the result—always.”
HAPPENING
Tuesday, February 28. 6–8pm
ISLAND FOOD SERIES – NIGHT 2
With Chef Joe Cizynski
Amazing food from Hokkaido, Cioppino, the Caymans, and Puerto Rico.
Member – $65, Non-member – $75