Yayoi Kusama was born in Japan in 1928 into a wealthy family. She emigrated to the States in the late 1950s, landing her right at the beginning of the Pop and Minimalist Art Movements in that country. She became involved with both. Over the last 6 decades, she has remained relevant and significant in the art world because she has worked over many artistic media - visual arts, performance, film, literature and design.

This retrospective exhibition is titled 'In Infinity'. Her work expresses her fantasies of infinity. They are 'dizzying psychological spaces you can disappear into.....Infinity in Kusama's art is at once a cosmic space, a spiritual idea and a psychological abyss. The attraction to this great void is both pleasurable and anxiety inducing.' (Information taken from a didactic board in the exhibition.)

Yayoi Kusama's 'Infinity Nets Yellow' 1960

A detail of Yayoi Kusama's 'Infinity Nets Yellow'

'The persistent repetition of the same little gesture, over and over, again and again is both meditative and neurotic'.

According to information in this exhibition on the net paintings, the idea occurred to her as she flew over the Pacific Ocean from Japan to the States

Yayoi Kusama's 'Accumulation Sculptures'

The Accumulation works started in 1962. Furniture and other objects were covered in stuffed soft-fabric protuberances and were then spray painted. She was one of the first artists to develop room installations.

This chair, plus a sofa, were exhibited in the first Pop Art exhibition in New York's Green Gallery in 1962.

As you can see it is quite gritty!

A detail of Yayoi Kusama's 'Phallic Girl' 1967

Only 12 people were allowed in at one time. We had to stay on the walkway between the red spotted protuberances.

Yayoi Kusama's fashion garments - 2nd half of the 1960s

In the 2nd half of the 1960s, Yayoi takes her practice into the commercial world (as did Andy Warhol). She started several companies , published a very risque newspaper, 'Kusama's Orgy', directed a psychedelic film and designed for fashion.

Yayoi Kusama's 'Polka Dot Love Room' 1967/2015

There are actually 5 mannequins in the space. Ultraviolet light shines on all the dots to make them fluorescent. This installation was first set up in the Dutch Orez Gallery in 1967. At this 60s exhibition, Kusama's guests had their naked bodies painted with dots and they moved in and around the mannequins. This work was completely restored for this retrospective exhibition at the Louisiana - the first time it has been viewed since 1967.

I shall post this now. Another post is to come on this exhibition.