Yayoi Kusama: a bit dotty

On a recent trip to Sydney with my best friend we made certain to stop by the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art. And I'm glad we did.

The installations were bizarre, disorienting. Who knew how strong the effect of being surrounded by dots could be. After mere moments of being shut in a mirrored space, only metres wide and long, the unsettled, loopy feelings began to set in. When the museum's workers opened the doors to let us out, it was like drawing in a deep breath of fresh air, as relief washed over us. But it wasn't a negative experience - rather it was an enjoyable sense of unease.

Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist - she paints, she sculpts, she performs, she creates installations. This self-proclaimed 'obsessive artist' has one theme that links all her art together however - pattern and repetition. The unsettled feeling her works evoke is no coincidence. Since she was a young girl, Kusama has apparently experienced hallucinations and obsessive thoughts. She explains that the trademark polka dots that pop up throughout her artwork are taken directly from these hallucinations.

Despite her poor mental health, Kusama can certainly not be described as a withdrawn artist. After moving to the United States in the late 50s, she staged a number of public events in conspicuous locations, including anti-war demonstrations, mass nudity, and fashion shows. Her work was widely acknowledged, and she soon became a leader in the avant-garde movement. Although she returned to Japan due to ill health in the late 1970s, her work has continued to be exhibited and awards have continued to be awarded.

It all just goes to show - the little bit of crazy in each of us may not be such a bad thing.