Even if her name doesn't ring a bell, you've likely come across one of her iconic creations: a polka-dotted pumpkin. The artist in question is none other than Yayoi Kusama.
Also known as ‘the princess of polka dots’, Kusama is known for her iconic dots, nets, pumpkins and infinity rooms, and is no doubt one of the world's most influential artists today. With that being said, don’t miss your chance to check out her works in person at Ota Fine Arts’ travelling exhibition Every Day I Pray for Love. The show began from Tokyo in March, 2024, subsequently to Shanghai in May and is now making its final stop in Singapore this September.
Every Day I Pray for Love will feature 50 paintings that Kusama has been working on since 2021, alongside several new drawings and her latest wall relief sculptures, SOULS OF WOMEN THAT CONTINUE FOREVER (2019) – a new addition to the Singapore show.
At the exhibition, you’ll find paintings that are created using marker pens and acrylic paints on canvas. Take a closer look at her circular motifs and you’ll notice poems and messages weaved between them, written by her in both Japanese and English, speaking about her boundless longing for life and her passion to share her art with the world.
The other half of the gallery will showcase Kusama’s recent wall relief sculptures titled SOULS OF WOMEN THAT CONTINUE FOREVER (2019). The work embodies her exploration of infiniteness, symbolising the enduring spirit of women. When exploring Kusama’s work, we recommend taking your time to fully absorb its intricate complexity.
For more info about Every Day I Pray for Love, visit Ota Fine Arts’ webpage here.