Infinity Net: The Autobiography of Yayoi Kusama

I love this book. Easy reading. I love Yayoi kusuma

Japanese avant-garde artist, sculptor, and novelist Yayoi Kusama begins her memoir with the Yokohma 2001 International Triennale of Contemporary Art exhibition in which she showcased two installations. She then goes back in time to 1957 when she left Japan to further her career in art in America at the age of 27: ‘my destiny was decided’ in New York. After an initial struggle, she became a successful artist, noted for her ‘net’ art and later for her polka dots and ‘Kusama Happenings’ in the 1960s. She painted the same thing every day: black canvases covered with nothing but nets, which looked like white lace. She describes her obsessive repetitive patterns and her ‘severe neurosis’ stemming from a ‘toxic childhood.’ She says that ‘before and after creating a work I fell ill, menaced by obsessions that crawl through my body.’ She suffered hallucinations, asthma, arrhythmia, tachycardia, and high and low blood pressure due to her severe anxieties. ‘If it were not for art, I would have killed myself a long time ago.’ Kusama’s autobiography describes her thoughts behind her artwork, how they developed, and why she focussed on specific themes. It provides readers with a full understanding behind her as an iconic figure and her iconic art. She is exceptionally honest and open about her mental anguish, but also about how she fully comprehends the triggers and how she deals with her demons – initially personally and later with the assistance of professional psychiatrists when she checked herself into a psychiatric hospital. Writing her autobiography in 2001 at 72 years of age, she is now 87, living in the psychiatric hospital, and still painting. This is a fascinating autobiography. This is more than a description of her artwork. It is an in-depth private view of her imagination and creativity, and the neuroses that drives her art as a way to exterminate her fears. ‘The positive and negative become one and consolidate my expression.’ She defines her work as Psychosomatic Art. Kusama finishes her autobiography in 2001 in a reflective, calm state of mind, content to continue her art – because she needs to, because she has to, because she wants to, and because it keeps her alive.

A most enjoyable read, a mind opener about Kusama and how it is reflected in her art. Taboos of the time are approached without complexes.

Yayoi Kusama is an amazing artist and storyteller. This book is her memoir of her life in art. Growing up in Japan, she wanted to be an artist, but was discouraged by her mother. She left Japan for the United States in her twenties and she became apart of the New York art scene during the 1950s and 1960s. She became known for both her abstract art as well as her performance art. In the 1970's she returned to Japan and eventually entered a psychiatric hospital where she has spent the rest of her days. She has a studio across the street where she creates her art. Since returning to Japan, she has also been writing and publishing novels. She turned 90 in March 22, 2019. In the last 10 years her 10 top selling works of art ranged from 2 million dollars to 7 million. All but two of these were created in the fifties and sixties. She is one of the few artists who has lived long enough to see the value of her art rise in price.

Wonderful. Would of liked it to be much more longer and in-depth because I really want to get to know her. Overall, wonderful book and a great way to see the evolution of a artist.

All brand new and in great condition. No delays or later wait for delivery. A great book for research for art history class.

She and Joseph Cornell knew each other for decades. Find out what they did together! Their art is awesome.

The translator needs an editor because there are so many spelling mistakes in this book. They just spelled analyzing “analy-sing.” I had to put the book down and come write this review after that one.

ottimo anche usato

A must read for any Kusama fan! A very raw and honest autobiography. It was interesting to read her thoughts and struggles with her Japanese heritage and the cultural attitudes both in America and Japan. Her story made me realize just how ahead of her time she actually was, I never knew she was such an influential activist. Now I want to read more of her writings.

empfehlung

I want to read and re-read this book again and again. I have only read it once and quite quickly as I just wanted to know everything about Yayoi Kusama. I love her work and her life story is a mix of inspiration, surprise and many other words come to mind. She is very eccentric, unique and interesting as a person. Her art is amazing and I am a big fan of her work and her art inspires me to try harder to accomplish drawings and pictures for my own home which are based on her techniques. She has lived a very full life and seems to be a very honest and humble person. Lots of untrue stories have been written about her over the years and in her own words she denies many of these myths about herself. Her art work has always been controversial both years ago as well as today. Her fascination with male and female private body parts caused quite a stir in the 1960's in New York and her many "Happenings" shows that she put on were considered to be nothing more than Orgies. She is famous for her body painting and use of polka dots as well as poetry and sculptures and painting, she is also knows for many other reasons too. Here career is long and never ending it would seem. She has had relationships with famous men and famously had a 10 year relationship with Joseph Cornell - to my disbelief this was a platonic relationship. In light of all the sexual content in her artwork, it was a surprise to know that she has a fear of sex and finds painting and creating using shapes that resemble penises to be a way for her to deal with this fear and loathing. This stems from her childhood. She moved from Japan as a young women to New York and then back to Japan in the 1970's where she voluntarily moved into a mental institution where she still lives today at the age of 88 where she has a very organised life and paints for hours every day. She is in constant pain in her joints from years of painting. She has vowed to paint to the end of her life. This book references many famous artists such as Andy Warhol and talks about her friendships and relationships with many people. She is blunt and to the point about her shortcomings too and tells stories in a very open and honest way without glossing over herself as being a saint. She reveals some interesting facts that most people would not know if you don't read the book. I was hooked and can't wait to re-read it as a skipped some pages as I wanted to read about certain aspects of her life more than others. She talks about her early childhood and the effect her mother had on her life. Like most adults that have had an abusive mother, we tend to carry lots of baggage and mental scars about the abuse. I felt overwhelmed at times and sad for her at the way her mother expected her to do things that no child should be expected to do. It was cruel and unfair but then again that is life. Her mother never supported her and discouraged her in her artwork. She has used art as a healing platform to help her with her mental illness and a way of self expression and feelings about the world. Personally I feel humbled to have even read this book and look up to her work as something I aspire to be like as an artist (very amateur one I may add). Anyone interested in art would like this book or even if you are not interested in Yayoi Kusama, her autobiography spills the beans on many famous artists mostly around the 60's and also tells the reader what it must have been like in New York in the 60's as well as Japan over the years as well. She references her early life in Japan and then again in the later years as well. I can honestly say this is probably one of the most exciting books I have read for a very long time. I am so happy I bought the kindle copy of this book so I can keep it with me in my bag and read it whenever I want. I have other 3000 reviews and this is the first time I wish I could give a book more than 5 stars, so maybe this sums up how great I feel the book is.

Great autobiography, Yayoi Kusama is a fascinating person and it tells perfectly her story and life in a very easy way to read.