Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, now 96 years old, stands as one of the world's most successful contemporary artists. The Fondation Beyeler in Basel is currently hosting a major retrospective featuring approximately 300 works by the renowned artist, offering visitors an unprecedented look into her decades-spanning career and artistic evolution.
The exhibition highlights Kusama's most iconic artistic elements, particularly her famous polka dots that have become synonymous with her work. These distinctive patterns, which appear throughout her paintings, sculptures, and installations, represent more than mere decoration - they embody her artistic philosophy and personal journey toward what she calls "self-obliteration," a concept she has been exploring since the 1960s.
Kusama's artistic development was profoundly shaped by her early experiences in Japan. As a child, she witnessed the devastation of World War II and lived through the atomic bombings that forever changed her homeland. These traumatic experiences, combined with her struggles with mental health, became foundational elements in her artistic expression and her lifelong exploration of themes related to infinity, repetition, and the dissolution of self.
The retrospective at the Fondation Beyeler demonstrates the remarkable consistency and evolution of Kusama's artistic vision over more than six decades. Her "Self Obliteration" series, which she began in the 1960s, paradoxically coincided with her rise to international fame and commercial success. The exhibition showcases how this concept of artistic self-erasure has manifested in various forms throughout her career, from her early paintings to her famous infinity rooms and large-scale installations.
Visitors to the Basel exhibition can experience the full spectrum of Kusama's artistic output, including her vibrant paintings covered in her signature dots, her sculptural works, and her immersive installations that have made her a social media phenomenon in recent years. The comprehensive nature of this retrospective, with its 300 works, provides insight into how Kusama has maintained her artistic relevance while staying true to her core aesthetic principles.
The exhibition also explores the deeper meaning behind Kusama's polka dots, revealing how these seemingly simple circular patterns represent her attempt to merge with the infinite and achieve a form of artistic transcendence. Her dots serve as a visual metaphor for her desire to obliterate the boundaries between herself, her art, and the universe - a concept that has resonated with audiences worldwide and contributed to her status as a contemporary art icon.
At 96, Kusama continues to work actively from her studio in Tokyo, where she has lived voluntarily in a psychiatric hospital since 1977. This unique living arrangement allows her to maintain her artistic practice while managing her mental health, demonstrating her commitment to her art and her understanding of what she needs to continue creating. The Fondation Beyeler exhibition serves as a testament to her enduring influence and the timeless appeal of her distinctive artistic vision.
