I wish I saw this 2018 documentary before I saw Yayoi Kusama's wondrously expansive exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden last year because it would've given me a deeper appreciation of the genesis of her art and how she views the enveloping scope of nature, something she realized she shared with Georgia O'Keefe. As seen through her unique eye-popping pieces, Kusama's colorful expressiveness is meticulously hypnotic, and filmmaker Heather Lenz does a remarkably thorough job tracking the now-93-year-old artist's relentless tenacity in light of the racism and sexism she faced over the decades in getting her art seen.
15 Reviews
What a life story...
skepticskeptical11 September 2019
Yayoi Kusama is without question an utterly fascinating character. I am happy that she finally gained recognition for her life-long, singleminded dedication to art, even after so many rejections and shunnings (and pilfering of ideas by artists!) by people in both the US and the Japanese art worlds. I suspect that there are many other people like her who were not strong enough to continue on in the face of so much adversity, so she should be applauded as a human being as well as an artist.
That said, I think that it is pretty clear that her late recognition is a part of the unfortunate and relatively recent phenomenon of the hyper-commodification of art, with collectors and gallerists and curators all out on the hunt for artists whom they can champion so that they (the hustlers) can get rich quick, along with their clients. The completely insane prices commanded for some artists´ works (including, now, Kusama´s) while most artists starve as they await to be (in most cases never) discovered is a result of a massive quantity of wealth concentrated in the hands of a few powerbrokers who trade art in the manner of stocks and bonds. In recent decades, such persons, and their agents, have come to wield enormous power in the art world. The entire system has become corrupt as a result. Now we have con artists posing as not only art critics and art dealers, but artists as well!
Many films have dealt specifically with this new development, of collectors buying art in order to flip it for profit, so if you are interested in that topic, I recommend that you watch some of those films. I have created a list here at imdb, but it appears that they will not include a link within the text of this review.
That said, I think that it is pretty clear that her late recognition is a part of the unfortunate and relatively recent phenomenon of the hyper-commodification of art, with collectors and gallerists and curators all out on the hunt for artists whom they can champion so that they (the hustlers) can get rich quick, along with their clients. The completely insane prices commanded for some artists´ works (including, now, Kusama´s) while most artists starve as they await to be (in most cases never) discovered is a result of a massive quantity of wealth concentrated in the hands of a few powerbrokers who trade art in the manner of stocks and bonds. In recent decades, such persons, and their agents, have come to wield enormous power in the art world. The entire system has become corrupt as a result. Now we have con artists posing as not only art critics and art dealers, but artists as well!
Many films have dealt specifically with this new development, of collectors buying art in order to flip it for profit, so if you are interested in that topic, I recommend that you watch some of those films. I have created a list here at imdb, but it appears that they will not include a link within the text of this review.
Lifelong fight for recognition
tomelwood-191-40617118 October 2022
A remarkable, provocative, innovative artist in canvas, art installations, and even performance art protests. Decades ahead of her time, she fought hard her whole life against the establishment but found her ideas constantly stolen and capitalized on by men. Even when hospitalized for her obsessive compulsions, she was nonetheless prolifically productive. Her mirrored rooms and penis-covered furniture are the perfect fodder for social media, and she finally got the recognition she deserved when almost 60 - her works and installations now garner millions.
This documentary is well researched and illustrated by contemporary footage.
This documentary is well researched and illustrated by contemporary footage.
She taught us to do what we love in life.
MK_Movie_Reviews22 January 2023
Yayoi Kusama suffers from schizophrenia and has a naive and sensitive image. However, in reality she is not. She came from a wealthy family in Japan and was able to make her way into the US in the 1950s. She was determined to make a name for herself in NYC. She wore fine mink and fine kimonos for seeking attention. She was a very aggressive and brave woman.
Now and then, artwork is an investment of the wealthy. She was successful in the art industry because she was very good at marketing, although she had numerous ideas plagiarized by other artists. Perhaps Yoko Ono imitated Yayoi Kusama's strategy.
Kusama said that she and Cornell were in a non-sex dating relationship, but all of the Kusama that Cornell had painted her naked. Cornell's mother throwing a bucket of water at her was a terrible act.
Over the years, she has been recognized on the cutting edge of art in NYC and London, and around the world. So it doesn't matter if she doesn't get recognized by her hometown, her rural Japanese city of Nagano, which has abandoned and insulted her.
Now and then, artwork is an investment of the wealthy. She was successful in the art industry because she was very good at marketing, although she had numerous ideas plagiarized by other artists. Perhaps Yoko Ono imitated Yayoi Kusama's strategy.
Kusama said that she and Cornell were in a non-sex dating relationship, but all of the Kusama that Cornell had painted her naked. Cornell's mother throwing a bucket of water at her was a terrible act.
Over the years, she has been recognized on the cutting edge of art in NYC and London, and around the world. So it doesn't matter if she doesn't get recognized by her hometown, her rural Japanese city of Nagano, which has abandoned and insulted her.
Andy Warhol ripped her off!
hapaflick-83-6939915 December 2018
Truly informative AND entertaining film about one of the most significant artists of her generation. If you know about Andy Warhol and his contemporaries but you don't know Kusama there are reasons for that - watch the movie and you'll see why being Japanese and a woman made her ripe for those guys to rip her off, use her genius for their own acclaim. But we're in a different era, and it's not Warhol whose art shows draw crowds out the door and down N. Grand Ave. at the Broad Museum and others around the world. I saw this film at Sundance and again at a LACMA screening in Los Angeles and I'm impressed by the painstaking detail with which the director executed her vision (Director Heather Lenz). Whether or not feminism, women's issues, race, etc. are categories that draw your interest, the look into the life and mind of an intense artist like Kusama is revealing.
LOVE this film! Artist, Womanist, Japanese genius...
jasonericperlman7 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this at Sundance and then at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's screening in September and found the film and Kusama herself quite fascinating. Did you know Warhol and the other artists of her generation in the NYC scene ripped her off to great success? Now you do. The director's detail and intricate work here make for a definitive film.
A fascinating film about a fascinating artist
dion-233-6477884 January 2019
Yayoi Kusama is one of the most popular living artists, but it wasn't always that way. This engaging film chronicles her difficult road to success, overcoming incredible obstacles. For those intrigued by her "Infinity Rooms" this film is a must see!
Fantastically well documented!
javomed8820 December 2018
This has to be one of the best documentaries I've seen this year. This film really makes justice to one of the greatest artists of our time. The way Kusama's work is depicted on screen is absolutely incredible. At times, it almost feels like you've been absorbed by one of her paintings. This film also reveals key facts of her life and the art scene of the time. You'll be blown away! Definitely there should be more documentaries like this. A must-see on the big screen!
Score: 10/10
FJ Medina
Score: 10/10
FJ Medina
Timely, revealing portrait of one of the most brilliant visual artists of our time
CostanzaPiccolomini5 December 2018
Heather Lenz directs an important, timely, and fascinating film about the now 89-year-old artist, Yayoi Kusama. A Japanese who in the early 1960s escaped her stifling family to begin her career in New York, where she innovated--as Lenz's film reveals--only to have her concepts and techniques stolen by the likes of Warhol, Oldenburg, et al. These men soon eclipsed her celebrity, and at her expense. Very critical correction of the historical record. Lenz also locates the origins of some of Kusama's visual motifs in childhood trauma, which had resulted in hallucinations and then obsession with hallucinated shapes and patterns. Kusama herself acknowledges as much and credits art-making with her survival. Her mirrored "infinity room" installations, giant polka-dotted pumpkins, and huge paintings covered obsessively with her personal iconography, now draw huge crowds at museums and galleries all over the world. Heather Lenz has not only drawn a powerful portrait of an artist whose late fame has intense cultural significance, but has also set a humanistic standard for the accounting of biographical details and, critically, for setting the historical record straight.
Truly inspiring and impressive
izumi-42 January 2019
Although Yayoi Kusama was an artist I knew about, I didn't know much about her background and her legacy. Lenz did an amazing job of weaving the cultural history, the political backdrop of the time Kusama was trying to pave her way as an artist with such grace and curiosity while portraying the present day Kusama with such compassionate humanity. I was mesmerized. Needless to say this film offers a tremendous value culturally and historically. It should be a required film to watch, especially for art history students!
Heather Lenz's Infinitely Fantastic Doc
colemanaaron-3432820 December 2018
An infinitely amazing, thoughtful, compassionate and deeply profound look at one of the most influential and unsung artists of the modern era. Director Heather Lenz captures the eccentric essence of this fascinating figure, while also making a bigger statement about overlooked female artists and artists of color. It creates a compelling and shocking case for how Kusama's vision influenced greats like Warhol, but how she got none of the credit. The exclusive footage Lenz caught of Kusama is amazing and rare. This film demands to be seen because Kusama demands to be known.
This is a fantastic movie
anniesd0327 January 2019
Documentaries are not easily found for artists. I am an avid Yayoi Kusama fan. When I heard there was a movie being made I couldn't wait for it to come out. I went to the premiere and loved it. I smiled with delight and excitement throughout the entire movie. I purchased the DVD because I had to own it. This movie did not disappoint. I have watched it 3 times now. If you want to learn more about Yayoi Kusama, watch this documentary. If you want to learn and be introduced to an incredible living artist, watch this documentary. If you want to learn about art, see this documentary. If you support women and their plight to be noticed, watch this documentary. I loved it. I highly recommend it. Heather Lenz did a wonderful job showing us who Yayoi Kusama is, what her art is about and why she is such an important living artist in our lifetime.
Super inspiring!
JdloLA31 December 2018
Loved watching this incredible story. Sometimes it takes a whole lifetime for an artist to be recognized for their contributions. It's a hard path that can beat you down, but the need to create doesn't go away. Amazing that after all Kusama had to endure her art is being appreciated in this way!
Amazing story of a female artist's struggle in the male-dominated world
re_incarnate13 May 2019
I love Kusama's work, but didn't have high expectations of this documentary beyond being informative. I very pleasantly surprised how good it was. Kusama's story is very touching as she struggles to make it as an artist in the male-dominated art world, whilst battling her own interior demons.
This documentary presents her story in an engaging way and rightfully celebrates one of the biggest contemporary female artists to date.
This documentary presents her story in an engaging way and rightfully celebrates one of the biggest contemporary female artists to date.
Greatness
reneereives13 March 2019
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
