Yayoi Kusama and Hiroshi Sugimoto are two giants of the art world known for their monumental visions and the force of their individual self-expression.
In new spaces on Naoshima that opened in March, these two Japanese artists are transformed, becoming more like mirrors and vessels in the colossal playground of Tadao Ando, reflecting back the aesthetic of the renowned architect. Taking the wider view of Kusama and Sugimoto’s own creative realms into account, what these spaces offer is a fascinating display of clashing star power.
Kusama is known for her swirling fields of dots, candy-colored pumpkins and Instagram-ready rooms bright with infinite reflections. Her works evoke a kind of madness, zany and cheerful while simultaneously tight and suffocating. What she’s not necessarily known for is coolness, sleekness or sexiness.