With a career spanning more than eight decades and still practising at 95 years of age, Yayoi Kusama is one of the world’s most inspiring and fascinating contemporary artists.
This self-guided online course will provide participants with rich insights into Kusama’s life and art practice, from her childhood and early adulthood in Matsumoto, Japan, to time spent in New York, and her ascendance to global art icon. Participants will learn about the evolution of major themes in Kusama’s works and gain confidence in analysing and interpreting meanings and messages in artworks.
Presented alongside the major exhibition Yayoi Kusama, on display until 21 April.
Week 1: Kusama’s Early Years in Japan
Yayoi Kusama is regarded as one of the most renowned contemporary artists in the world. But where does her incredible story start? We begin this course by learning about Kusama’s early life in regional Japan, where nature influenced the art she made from a young age, and discover the role that creativity played in managing familial and cultural pressures and childhood hallucinations. We’ll also explore key moments in Kusama’s early career that led her to expand her practice beyond Japan and move to the United States.
Week 2: Infinity Nets, Accumulation Sculptures and All-Encompassing Environments
When Yayoi Kusama arrived in New York in 1958, she realised that to gain recognition, she needed to create something truly extraordinary. What obstacles did she encounter as she worked to establish herself in this vibrant yet exclusive art world, and how did these challenges shape the bold artistic evolution she experienced at the time? This week, we learn about Kusama’s monumental Infinity Net paintings, Accumulation sculptures and early immersive installations and examine their influence on a dynamic and competitive New York art scene.
Week 3: Kusama in New York: Performance, Fashion and Activism
In the late 1960s, after moving to New York, Yayoi Kusama’s work underwent a major transformation. She began staging ’happenings’ – interactive, socially and politically charged performances inspired by the countercultural movements of the time. This week, we’ll examine the factors that prompted these public events, the people involved, and the art world’s response. We also explore Kusama’s foray into fashion design, creating clothing that reflected the themes of her performances, leading to the launch of her own ready-to-wear collection.
Week 4: Kusama’s Return to Japan & Re-emergence
Although Yayoi Kusama’s influence in the art world continued to grow, her time in New York was marked by persistent challenges. In 1973, facing both personal and professional hardships, she chose to return to Japan. This week, we explore how this pivotal moment influenced Kusama’s creative output and we will gain a deeper understanding of her resolve to produce innovative art that demonstrated her dedication to self-expression, and her wish to share this with the world.
Week 5: Yayoi Kusama in the Global Art World – 1990s to Now
Since the 2000s, Yayoi Kusama’s recognition has continued to grow and she has become a worldwide icon. Her distinctive artistic style has captivated millions through exhibitions, brand collaborations and social media. Despite her widespread popularity, Kusama continues to produce deeply personal art through which she shares messages of hope and resilience. In this final week of the course, we explore the key moments in Kusama’s remarkable career that helped shape her into the global cultural figure she is today.
Through engagement with this course, participants will be able to:
- Develop an understanding of Yayoi Kusama’s personal history and sociohistorical context and how these factors have influenced her artistic career.
- Identify and discuss major themes evident in Yayoi Kusama’s practice and trace their evolution over time.
- AAnalyse and interpret the meanings and messages in key works of art produced at various times during Yayoi Kusama’s expansive career.
- Examine and discuss Yayoi Kusama’s contribution to art history and her influence on various art movements.
- Reflect on Kusama’s ground-breaking impact on the contemporary art world and explore how her work continues to shape and inspire art and visual culture.
The course is accessible from 10am on Friday 28 February.
You can complete the course in your own time.
Access will expire at midnight on Sunday 27 April.
This course presents weekly readings and videos, taught and guided by NGV curators and specialist educators, providing a unique opportunity to learn about Yayoi Kusama’s indelible contribution to twentieth and twenty-first century art.
This is a self-guided course and can be completed at your own pace. Each module contains readings, videos, activities and other materials that will take approximately 1 hour to complete. We recommend completing one module per week over five weeks.
A prescribed reading and resources list will be provided to course participants as part of the course materials, providing links to a curated selection of books, articles and videos to extend your learning.
$68 Members / $75 Non-Member / $72 Concession, Student & Educator
Includes 8-week access to learning materials from the course start date (Friday 28 February).
Access will expire at midnight on Sunday 27 April.
Premium Members enjoy complimentary standard enrolment to NGV Online Courses. To enrol, email premiummembers@ngv.vic.gov.au
Want to learn more? Purchase a copy of the exhibition catalogue that features a cover designed by Yayoi Kusama especially for the NGV. Members receive a 10% discount.
Additional information and resources can be found on the Yayoi Kusama exhibition website
INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS & EDUCATORS
Yayoi Kusama: Online Course offers an inspiring and creative professional learning opportunity for teachers of all levels and subjects. This course meets the following AITSL standards:
A certificate of professional learning is available on request.
This course is part of NGV Art School, offering online courses, in-person courses, talks and livestreamed events to support avid learners of all ages to confidently embrace the world of art, design and ideas.