Polka dots, pumpkins and infinity — Yayoi Kusama’s extraordinary life
TOKYO, Aug 27 — The dotty pumpkins and kaleidoscope rooms of Yayoi Kusama, who has died aged 97, were as vibrant a...
Yayoi Kusama, the renowned Japanese artist known for her polka dot and pumpkin motifs, passed away at the age of 97. Born in 1929, Kusama was the youngest daughter of a wealthy family who endured personal struggles. As a child, she began creating her signature dot and net patterns, which she later described as providing psychological relief.
Her art career took off in the 1960s when she moved to the United States to seek international recognition, eventually establishing herself as a prominent figure in the avant-garde scene. Kusama's work, which was heavily influenced by vivid hallucinations, sold for millions of dollars and captivated audiences worldwide. Despite her success, she continued to live in a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo due to her ongoing struggles with mental illness.
Kusama's art was inspired by her personal experiences and her desire to create a sense of self-obliteration through repetition. Her iconic pumpkins, which she referred to as her "life partners," became a central motif in her work, symbolizing abundance and unpretentious beauty.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
