Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
This career-spanning, multi-faceted retrospective will appeal to new as well as lifelong fans of the legendary Japanese artist. Yayoi Kusama has worked tirelessly since the 1950s, influencing some of the world's most prominent artists, and pioneering the art of self-promotion. But widespread popular acclaim for her work is a relatively recent phenomenon, with crowds lining up for hours to experience her Infinity Rooms, and a new museum dedicated to her work opening in Tokyo. This companion volume to a groundbreaking new Kusama retrospective examines her work from myriad aspects, many of which are provocative and wholly original. The book pays particular focus to the years Kusama spent in the US and Europe, tracing her development through early paintings and accumulative sculptures to her hugely popular immersive environments. It examines Kusama's genius for personal branding, and illuminates her commitment to political and social issues in Europe, America and Japan. A diverse selection of images and archival documents are augmented through enlightening texts by authors from different theoretical backgrounds. These essays discuss Kusama's accomplishments in the worlds of fashion, film, art marketing, and publishing; focus on her cultural identities and artistic spheres; and offer genre-specific observations about Kusama's performances, installations and series of paintings. As panoramic and fascinating as its subject, this monumental retrospective will guide Kusama's enormous fan base toward a deeper understanding of her creative trajectory and of the breadth of her extraordinary achievement.
Synopsis
This book accompanies Yayoi Kusama's first major European retrospective exhibition, offering a comprehensive overview of the Japanese artist's influential oeuvre, which spans more than eighty years.
The companion to the groundbreaking new retrospective at the Gropius Bau, this publication examines Kusama's life and work through wholly original insights by leading experts. The book traces the development of Kusama's creative output from her early paintings and accumulative sculptures to her immersive environments, as well exploring her lesser-known artistic activity in Europe and Germany in particular. It illuminates Kusama's commitment to political and social issues in Europe, the US and Japan. A diverse selection of images and archival documents feature alongside texts by authors from different theoretical backgrounds. Essays discuss Kusama's accomplishments in the worlds of fashion, film, art marketing and publishing. They focus on her engagement with different artistic spheres and offer genre-specific observations about her performances, installations and painting series. As panoramic and fascinating as its subject, this monumental retrospective guides viewers interested in Kusama towards a deeper understanding of her creative trajectory and of the breadth of her extraordinary career.