Behind Kusama’s Polka Dots

Think of Kusama Yayoi and polka dots and primary colours flood your mind. But few know that her vivid artwork disguises Kasuma’s struggles and suppressions from society.

Kusama was born into a Japanese agricultural family, but her love of and dedication to art contradicts traditional Japanese cultural beliefs that a woman should be married and become a good housewife.

Now 87 years old, the conflict between Kasuma’s identity and traditional Japanese values arose as her mental wellness issue began to develop when she was a teenager. Increasingly since then, Kazuma has suffered debilitating depression and hallucinations that have in turn influenced her style of painting.

Kusuma calls her ‘self-obliteration’ as her freedom: a dream to escape imprisonment at the hand of society values. She felt for a long time she was lost in the maze with no way out. Her masterpieces during the 1990s – polka dots pumpkins or ‘Infinity Mirror Room’ – reflected her periods suffering from hallucinations.

On reflection, Kusama Yayoi’s story echoes that of Vincent Van Gogh. He also suffered from hallucinations and depression, leading him to be at odds with society and his desire to be an artist. Sad when you consider Van Gogh created 10 of the world’s most valuable paintings although during his life, he sold only one of 2,000 of his artworks.

Van Gogh’s best known artworks, ‘The Starry Night’ shows the storm of his torment through the technique of colour contrast and circular patterns on the sky.

No matter how severe their emotional struggles, Kusama, Van Gogh and many others, artists find solace in creating art. It’s as if art is medicine that provides balance, if only temporarily.

Despite all the hardship Kusama has faced throughout her life, no one can deny her influence as one of the world’s great contemporary artists.

The documentary film ‘Kusama: Infinity’ screens at RCB Forum, 2nd Floor, River City Bangkok at 14:00 Saturday 12th and 26th December.

Tickets are available at 150 THB https://www.ticketmelon.com/rivercitybangkok/artistfilmkasuma