All images courtesy of Victoria Miro, London, Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo and Yayoi Kusama Studio Inc. © Yayoi Kusama.
Victoria Miro Gallery of London currently presents “New Paintings,” a showcase of works by Japanese contemporary artist, Yayoi Kusama. The pieces were chosen from a relatively recent series exploring a combination of personal obsession and cosmic infinity.
The painting Brilliance of Life beautifully exhibits these two underlying themes. This larger than life, three-dimensional work looks like an eye rimmed with a jungle of lashes. The colors are vivid and unexpected, with what appears to be a red pupil and gold iris. Outside these two layers, Kusama has incorporated multi-sized dots, painted in opposition to the background. The repeating dots, a signature motif for the artist, create a sense of infinity depth and visual truth. The painting shows a masterful merging of the figural with the abstract in an intensely observed and passionately-executed way.
Yayoi Kusama’s “New Paintings” is on view at Victoria Miro Gallery, 16 Warf Road, London N1 7RW, Tuesday through Saturday through April 5.
