Yayoi Kusama

Private Collection
Sale: Christie's, London, Post-War and Contemporary Art, 5 December 2005, Lot 80
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner

Colour: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is deeper and more vibrant in the original. Condition: This work is in very good condition. There is evidence of light wear and handling towards the edges and corner tips with associated extremely minute specks of paint loss along the right hand edge. Upon close inspection, there is a very light vertical media accretion parallel to the right side edge towards the lower right corner. No restoration is apparent when examined under ultra-violet light.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Recognised as the most revered female Japanese artist of her time, Yayoi Kusama's Pumpkin is a mesmerising visual experience.

Plagued by severe hallucinations for most of her life, Kusama's infamous visual language of vibrant patterns, nets and polka dots, is infused with autobiographical content. Her unrelenting exploration of repetition and patterns of psychedelic colours is driven by her thematic interest in the concepts of infinity and exemplified in the intricately proliferating dots that spread across the surface of the present painting. One of the earliest and most commonly used motifs, the pumpkin first appeared in the artist's work of the 1940's and has taken shape in her paintings, sculptures and installations ever since, continuing to manifest Kusama's central concerns and artistic ambitions. The stark contrast of the commonly used yellow and black colour theme further enhances the repetitive aspect of the dots to create an enthralling visual allusion. Challenging the concepts of infinity, Kusama creates imaginative visual environments and experiences, repeatedly stimulating the viewer's senses. The plump organic shape of this unusual depiction, which seems to be elegantly hovering within a vast, uncharted universe, exemplifies the artist's humorous and playful interest in the uncanny qualities of her natural surroundings.

A precursor of the feminist, minimalist and pop art movements in America, Kusama took on a leading role in the New York art scene of the 1950s and 60s, seeking to push the boundaries of abstract painting. The hypnotic effects of her celebrated net paintings resembled the optical experimentations of Op artists such as Bridget Riley, whilst her serial repetition instilled a surreal and somewhat 'obsessive' quality into her paintings. Pumpkin is a magnificent example of the artist’s unceasing ability to combine these unique visual features to create innovative paradigms of artistic expression. Overall, the ferocity of Kusama’s prodigious creativity and artistic explorations continues to fascinate viewer’s world-wide, her works exuding a vibrant radiance.