From July 11 in Paris La Villett Park (Parc de la Villette), you can see the pink inflatable balloons in black peas. Most of them - is enormous, and some can even go. Sozdatelnitsa balls - 79-year-old Japanese artist Yaei Kusama (Yayoi Kusama), to which the motive «in peas» same «brand», as the blue color to Yves Klein (Yves Klein), or spiders, to Louise Bourgeois (Louise Bourgeois). Together with Yoko Ono (Yoko Ono), Kusama is one of the most famous artists in the era of flourishing kontrkultury United States. Her soft sculptures, covered with colored dots, became a symbol of «psychedelic 60's».

As a child Kusama hallucinate. «One day I was staring at the tablecloth red flower. Looking up, I suddenly saw that the same flowers cover the ceiling, windows, walls, the room, my body and the universe. I felt that self-destructing, is dissolved in the infinity of time and space, turning into nothing. I realized it was not in my imagination and dreams, and scared. I knew what to run away to spell red flowers are not deprived me of life. I desperately ran up the stairs. Steps have been destroyed by my feet and I fell down the stairs, injuring his leg ». Since then, the girl began to see the variety of motives, the most important of which was the pattern «in pea». The situation at home was tense Kusama: overbearing mother often beater girl pointed out, what to do and what to wear, and when grown up, met her marriage to give a rich young man, with whom Yaei not even met. «I hate themselves», - she later admitted. Art has to rescue the girl. It found expression of the obsessive images that its full consciousness.

In 1957, the beginning artist went to New York, which immediately joined actively in the creative life of the city. Best friend and admirer of the girl became an American surrealist Joseph Cornell (Joseph Cornell), known for his poetic compositions of the lovely useless knick-knacks. Activities Kusama at the time was not limited to creating sculptures from fabrics and paintings «in pea». She built the installation, making collages and Photo, creating weird fashion, and even removed the pilot movie. But most of all remember the artist of their performance, become a bright part of «protest» Culture turbulent 1960's. She arranged happening, which covers naked body of their friends and visiting artists for its «brand» colored dots. The main slogan of the artist was Love forever - «Love Forever». Videotapes and photographs of performances of its show of happy hippies, merged in the love embrace and the miniature Japanese girl in the strange attire, razrisovyvayuschuyu their bodies in different colors. It has also created an outfit for the first gay wedding in New York - the dress, which fit both «Bridal». Instead of the Bible in the unusual wedding was in New York telephone directory.

Creativity Kusama refers to the key During the 1960's, as the pop-art, performance art, op art (optical art), psychedelic art, New Realism, Minimalism. Her art is also called «post-minimalist» and «Post-hypnotic». Creation of Japanese artist praised and include in their collections of such famous artists as Frank Stella (Frank Stella), and Donald Judd (Donald Judd). The latter, even for some time was her boyfriend. Yet, financial prosperity in America Yaei Kusama never reached. In 1973, she returned to Japan and settled in a psychiatric hospital, where lives to this day. In its native country, she gained fame as a writer. Her novel The Hustlers Grotto on Christopher Street, even received a prestigious literary prize.

Over the years, that Yaei lived outside the United States, many of her works have been lost or destroyed. The artist forgot the order. But at the end of last century, curators of the most famous of American museums have decided to revive interest in its work. In 1998-1999, the exhibition of Yaei Kusama went to the Art Museum district of Los Angeles (LACMA), Museum of Modern Art in New York (NY MOMA), Walker Art Center in Minneapolis (Walker Art Center), etc. The exhibitions have been with great success.

Large soft balls, which can now be seen in Paris, executed in pink. For Kusama, this color symbolizes happiness and love. According to Kusama philosophy, the arts must be brought into this world of joy and pleasure. Creating sculptures, paintings and installations for many years helps artist cope with intrusive ideas. «If it were not for art, I would have long ago committed suicide», - she said.

Portfolio Yaei Kusama can be seen in the Park La Villett until August 17.

Julia Maksimova

Sources: www.paris -art.com , www.yayoi-kusama . jp , www.artandculture.com , www.indexmagazine.com , artinvestment.ru