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Lot Essay
“I have been using polka dots since I was a very young child. (…) I have made the polka dot into a symbol of love and peace” -Yayoi Kusama
Polka dots are a recurring theme in Yayoi Kusama’s prolific oeuvre, with the dots extending, pulsating, and seemingly organic. As one of the integral core elements in her art, the polka dot is also regarded by the artist as a symbol of “love and peace”. Different from using the polka-dots pattern as a creative device, the dots are the central subject in Dots-Obsession (TOWE) (Lot 111). Orange dots of varying opacities are sprawled on Dots-Obsession (TOWE), forming an undulating and vibrant ocean-like surface. The slightly darker dots seem to be slowly concaving backwards, with the brighter dots protruding forwards. The image takes on a peculiar sense of depth and organic appeal, forming a visual spectacle that is uniquely Kusama. The tightly gathered dots on the canvas seem to be rolling up and down and slowly enveloping the world around. The sense of rhythm and envelopment projected by the dots draws the viewers in and also validates the artist’s infatuation and passion for polka dots.
Polka dots are a recurring theme in Yayoi Kusama’s prolific oeuvre, with the dots extending, pulsating, and seemingly organic. As one of the integral core elements in her art, the polka dot is also regarded by the artist as a symbol of “love and peace”. Different from using the polka-dots pattern as a creative device, the dots are the central subject in Dots-Obsession (TOWE) (Lot 111). Orange dots of varying opacities are sprawled on Dots-Obsession (TOWE), forming an undulating and vibrant ocean-like surface. The slightly darker dots seem to be slowly concaving backwards, with the brighter dots protruding forwards. The image takes on a peculiar sense of depth and organic appeal, forming a visual spectacle that is uniquely Kusama. The tightly gathered dots on the canvas seem to be rolling up and down and slowly enveloping the world around. The sense of rhythm and envelopment projected by the dots draws the viewers in and also validates the artist’s infatuation and passion for polka dots.