Yayoi Kusma had her first psychotic episode when she was only 11 years old; flowers in a field she was walking in began speaking to her. It was her mental illness that led her to create her signature obliteration art, not only as a means of expression, but as a means of self-medication. When Kusama moved back to Japan in the mid-70s, her illness worsened and by 1977, she felt she was no longer able to manage it on her own. She checked herself into a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo and the now 97 year old artist still lives there today. When she still travelled, her psychiatrist accompanied her.
Kusama has continued to work at her studio across the street from the hospital. She exhibited successfully at many different museums, botanical gardens, and large exhibitions such as the Venice Biennial, across the world. Only a few years ago, she had a major campaign with Louis Vuitton. She serves as an inspiration for all of us who battle mental illness to create our art but who also work with it to create what we do.
This Kuswaffle is a tribute to her indomitable spirit.
And yes, I did glue every single one of those rhinestones on by hand.
Recycled medication bottle, rhinestones, Sculpey, Golden Acrylic Paint, glue.
Yayoi Kusma had her first psychotic episode when she was only 11 years old; flowers in a field she was walking in began speaking to her. It was her mental illness that led her to create her signature obliteration art, not only as a means of expression, but as a means of self-medication. When Kusama moved back to Japan in the mid-70s, her illness worsened and by 1977, she felt she was no longer able to manage it on her own. She checked herself into a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo and the now 97 year old artist still lives there today. When she still travelled, her psychiatrist accompanied her.
Kusama has continued to work at her studio across the street from the hospital. She exhibited successfully at many different museums, botanical gardens, and large exhibitions such as the Venice Biennial, across the world. Only a few years ago, she had a major campaign with Louis Vuitton. She serves as an inspiration for all of us who battle mental illness to create our art but who also work with it to create what we do.
This Kuswaffle is a tribute to her indomitable spirit.
And yes, I did glue every single one of those rhinestones on by hand.
Recycled medication bottle, rhinestones, Sculpey, Golden Acrylic Paint, glue.
