KUSAMA

#GraphicNovel Review#kusamaJust finished this stunning graphic art book chronicling the life of one of the most extraordinary artists of our times, Yayoi Kusama.Kusama battled mental health problems growing up in the 1930s in a troubled household where she became the recipient of her mother's rage. Hallucinations and voices in her head disturbed her to no end. She started painting as a way to escape those demons and later her art helped her to escape Japan which she saw as old fashioned and patriarchal.In New York she painted round the clock often food and sleep deprived even while her health problems and anxiety attacks continued. Before long her art career took off. Her exhibitions and her unique art captures the imagination of the art loving public across the US. Dancers,Actors,Models all were ready to perform for her, be a part of her sensational and scandulous performance art often stripping down to being completely naked and making love in public spaces, painted with polka dots by Kusuma.She came to be known as the Polka Dot genius. Recurring patterns and polka dots became a trademark part of her work. During the 1960s, Kusama's art work embodied the free spirited hippie culture which included denouncing war, sexism, and capitalism.At the height of her fame, her continued health problems force her to return from New York and seek medical help in Japan and she had to be kept under close care. In 1977 she enters the Seiwa Psychiatric Hospital where she still continues to live. In all the years of depression, art is her only solace as she continues to paint even while the World seems to have forgotten her.But eventually she makes a dazzling comeback at the Venice Biennale in 1966 and later she represents Japan officially in the Biennale exhibitions.Today at 93 she is still going strong and is known to be the world's best selling living artist. Her exhibitions draw huge crowds and queues so much so some galleries had to impose a time limit for each visitor to view her work.Autobiographies, documentaries and even a Museum on her life are now available but I am glad my first exposure to Kusama's amazing work and life has been through this graphic novel.Elisa Macellari has done an absolutely fabulous job recreating Kusama's life and art works. This book is a collectible and one I intend to treasure in my collection

Das Buch liest sich in einem Rutsch bzw. der Lebenslauf der Künstlerin ist so spannend, dass er sich über die Bild-Text-Kombination leicht erschließt.

Un acercamiento bellísimo a la vida y obra de Yayoi Kusama.Sencillamente hipnótico.

My partner is a teacher and loved this concept to introduce amazing artist to the class!

Na

My 9 year old and I are fans of Kusama. I was caught so off guard when she picked up and started on the book last night. She woke up and asked me where’s the book. “Mom she says she hates sex” “Mom why does she dress people in costumes with b******”Clearly I have not read it the book. Based on the high ratings on these reviews I’m still hoping it is an interesting book for reading and collection. But I surely wished i had caught the warnings in these reviews.