Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity
“Our earth is only one polka dot among a million stars in the cosmos…Polka dots are a way to infinity.”
This story is about artist Yayoi Kusama and her incredible (and prolific!) way of creating art.
But why polka dots?
“Our earth is only one polka dot among a million stars in the cosmos…Polka dots are a way to infinity,” the artist has said.
Kusama’s use of dots and mirrors make the concept of infinity accessible to children and adults alike.
After reading this story, it is impossible not to start seeing spots everywhere. Rethinking space using her unique lens through which she views the World, Kusama reminds us how small we are and how big the universe is.
The end of the book gives a few more details about her and some images of her actual work, which inspires the reader to find more of work, and to learn more about her. She is a living legend whose personal story is as fascinating as her art.
It should be noted that Kusama lives voluntarily in a psychiatric asylum in Tokyo and has since 1977. Creating art is part of what helps her to process and work through her mental struggles and hallucinations.
She’s had hallucinations since childhood and those images (referred to as “dreams and visions” in the book) are what inspires her work.
While not mentioned in the story, we think her life could be used as a way to talk about (and dismantle the stigma of) mental illness.
Get your copy at the library or using our bookshop link below. Read share and repeat (times infinity).
Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity is written by Sarah Suzuki and illustrated by Ellen Weinstein. Thank you both for this book!
Some Things to Think About…
How do you know if something is art? Who decides that?
According to this book, Kusama wanted to live I a world without rules. What do you think is meant by that? What would happen if there were no rules? How would that same you feel?
If you could meet Kusama, what would you ask her?
illustrated by Ellen Weinstein
