Students from Years 4 to 6 have recently been diving into the vibrant, whimsical and deeply meaningful world of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, whose work has recently been featured at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). This exhibition was the most visited ticketed exhibition in the history of the NGV welcoming over 570,537 guests. Known for her bold use of colour, repeated patterns, and imaginative installations, Kusama is a globally celebrated contemporary artist whose unique perspective is shaped by her own life experiences and mental health journey.
In Visual Arts this term, many of our Junior School students have explored Kusama’s artwork and ideas through hands-on activities!
Year 4 students focused on Kusama’s whimsical mushroom motifs, experimenting with colour, line and shape:
Year 5 students explored her iconic pumpkin artworks, using bold contrast and pattern to replicate Kusama’s famous style:
Year 6 students studied her vibrant flower designs, examining how proportion and repetition are used in her visual storytelling:
Across all year levels, students have been learning to apply the elements of art (colour, line and shape) and design principles (pattern, contrast and proportion) in their own creative projects inspired by Kusama.
Who Is Yayoi Kusama?
Yayoi Kusama is a world-renowned artist, often referred to as the “Princess of Polka Dots.” Her art is more than just beautiful—it’s deeply personal. Kusama began creating art as a way to cope with hallucinations and obsessive thoughts that began in her childhood. Over time, her distinctive motifs – especially polka dots, pumpkins, flowers and nets – became powerful symbols of her inner world and her method of self-healing.
She once described her hallucinations as overwhelming experiences where she felt as if she were disappearing into her surroundings—a feeling she called “self-obliteration.” Kusama uses repetition, colour and immersive installations to share this experience with others and to help herself make sense of her mind.
Infinity Nets and the Power of Painting
One of Kusama’s most significant artistic breakthroughs came through her series called Infinity Nets. These works are made up of endless loops and nets, inspired by the visions she experienced. She began creating them as a child to cope with anxiety and confusion brought on by hallucinations.
Kusama once explained, “By painting pictures on paper and canvas and by making weird objects, I began to gradually repeat in the work the calling forth and back that took place in my soul.”
In 2022, one of her Infinity Net paintings sold for an astonishing USD $8.8 million – the highest price ever paid for an artwork by a living female artist.
Stepping into Infinity: The Polka Dot Universe
Perhaps Kusama’s most famous creations are her Infinity Rooms, immersive installations filled with mirrors and flashing lights that create the illusion of endless space. These rooms give viewers a sense of being surrounded by thousands of tiny lights—just like stars in the sky. Through this experience, Kusama invites us to feel what she describes as “melting into the universe.”
Our very own Kathy Clarke, Junior School Visual Arts Teacher and practitioner, shared with us about our students’ investigations:
“By covering entire spaces, objects, and even herself with polka dots, Kusama transforms the world around her into a cosmic dreamscape – one that our students have enjoyed exploring through their own creative work. This exploration of Yayoi Kusama’s life and work has not only inspired our students artistically but has also opened conversations about self-expression and the power of art to transform experiences.”
We are proud of the thoughtful and imaginative responses our students have created in honour of one of the world’s most original living artists.
