Yayoi Kusama - 20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Evening Sale Hong Kong Saturday, November 25, 2017 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Ota Fine Arts, Singapore
    Acquired from the above by the present owner

  • Exhibited

    Singapore, Ota Fine Arts, Yayoi Kusama "METALLIC", 14 September - 28 October 2012

  • Catalogue Essay

    Yayoi Kusama’s creative inspirations stem from various sources, her confrontation with fear is for one, but also her childhood experience in a divided family and her living with hallucinations. Similar to her creation of the Infinity Nets series and the accumulated phallic soft sculptures, she intends to ultimately incorporate herself into the imagery of fear through constant repetition, in an attempt to overcome suffocative fears in real life with self-obliteration.

    In the early 60s, Kusama began working on her assemblage art Accumulation series, in which she sewed numerous soft sculptures, reproducing them all over sofas, cabinets, clothes and shoes. In 1963, Kusama published Aggregation: One Thousand Boats Show, critically acclaimed by the contemporary art world, including famed artist Andy Warhol. Yayoi Kusama’s works in the 1960s span in media from painting to sculpture, from installation to Love and Peace themed performance. The genesis behind all Kusama’s works evolves from her confrontation with personal fears, to the challenging of feudal thoughts and patriarchal authority.

    In 1973, Kusama moved back to Japan. During her stay in Japan, the floor of her studio was covered with soft sculptures in organic shapes. From this period onwards, Kusama’s sculpture no served longer as mere confrontation with personal fears or male gender, but rather as an investigation into the role females play in the society.

    Over the 60 years of her artistic career, Kusama’s works have never become obsolete; on the contrary, they are constantly rejuvenating themselves. Her later works have evolved from being rebellious, criticizing and aggressive to a purely harmonious, where she spontaneously employs intense colours and delicate forms to eulogise nature, life and love. As the artist once claimed, “I would like my art to bring happiness for the world.”

    In Abode of Heart, Kusama applies vivid colours to her celebrated polka dots drawings. The wantonly blooming shape is redolent of vivacious, exotic flowers - demonstrating Yayoi Kusama’s creativity and echoing the wonderland in her dreams.

  • Artist Biography

    Yayoi Kusama

    Japanese

    Named "the world's most popular artist" in 2015, it's not hard to see why Yayoi Kusama continues to dazzle contemporary art audiences globally. From her signature polka dots—"fabulous," she calls them—to her mirror-and-light Infinity Rooms, Kusama's multi-dimensional practice of making art elevates the experience of immersion. To neatly pin an artistic movement onto Kusama would be for naught: She melds and transcends the aesthetics and theories of many late twentieth century movements, including Pop Art and Minimalism, without ever taking a singular path.

     

    As an nonagenarian who still lives in Tokyo and steadfastly paints in her studio every day, Kusama honed her punchy cosmic style in New York City in the 1960s. During this period, she staged avant-garde happenings, which eventually thrust her onto the international stage with a series of groundbreaking exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in the 1980s and the 45th Venice Biennale in 1993. She continues to churn out paintings and installations at inspiring speed, exhibiting internationally in nearly every corner of the globe, and maintains a commanding presence on the primary market and at auction.

     
    View More Works

Property of an Important Asian Collector

26

Abode of Heart

2012
signed, titled and dated 'YAYOI KUSAMA 2012 "ABODE OF HEART"' on the reverse of the right leg
mixed media
100 x 130 x 70 cm. (39 3/8 x 51 1/8 x 27 1/2 in.)
Executed in 2012, this work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by the Yayoi Kusama Studio.

Estimate
HK$2,800,000 - 3,800,000 
€309,000-419,000
$359,000-487,000

Sold for HK$3,460,000

Contact Specialist
Jonathan Crockett
Deputy Chairman, Asia and Head of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Asia
+852 2318 2023

Sandy Ma
Specialist, Head of Evening Sale
+852 2318 2025

General Enquiries
+852 2318 2000

20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Evening Sale

Hong Kong Auction 26 November 2017