Yayoi Kusama: Japan's kaleidoscopic, troubled 'polka dot queen'

Yayoi Kusama, the renowned Japanese artist known for her polka dot and kaleidoscopic works, passed away at the age of 97. Her vibrant and exuberant creations were the result of a lifelong struggle with mental illness. Born in 1929, Kusama was the youngest daughter of a wealthy but troubled family. She began creating her signature dot and net patterns at the age of 10, finding solace in art during difficult times.

Kusama's artistic journey took her to New York in the 1960s, where she found success in the pop and minimalist scenes. However, her home country of Japan also played a significant role in her development as an artist. She studied Japanese painting in Kyoto against her parents' wishes and held her first solo exhibition in her hometown of Matsumoto in 1952. Kusama's concept of 'self-obliteration' was a recurring theme in her work, as she aimed to merge her existence with her art through the repetition of patterns.

Throughout her career, Kusama faced numerous challenges, including poverty and discrimination in the predominantly white and male-dominated art world. Despite these obstacles, she persevered, becoming a prominent figure in the avant-garde world and staging happenings that pushed the boundaries of art and performance. She also established a 'Church of Self-Obliteration' and styled herself as the 'High Priestess of Polka Dots' to officiate at a gay wedding.

Kusama's fame and success reached a new height in the 1990s, with her work being recognized as the world's most popular artist in 2014 by The Art Newspaper. Her most famous motifs, including giant pumpkins and infinity net paintings, continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Despite her success, Kusama remained humble and attributed her creativity to the serenity of the soul that comes from spending time alone.