A Speck in Space.

August 29, 2012

Polka-dots has been a staple in the fashion industry for decades now ; I have at least three tops with this pattern, and maybe even a few bottoms.  But, it was not always so common - during medieval times, the repeated circles were highly associated with diseases such as the measles.  Not incredibly attractive, to say the least.
red and white galore! : yayoi kusama for louis vuitton & minnie mouse.
It is an entirely different story these days.  Polka-dots' popularity started rising when it was featured on Minnie Mouse's signature look, and continued thanks to various fashion icons and celebrities, like Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, and Elizabeth Taylor.  Perhaps the biggest advocator of this pattern is none other than Yayoi Kusama.
yayoi kusama
so striking. photo.
Since the mid 1950s, the Japanese-born Kusama has graced the world with her creative and immersive polka-dots experience, derived from her own obsessive, hallucinatory visions she has had since childhood.  At first glance, perhaps her work seems ordinary.  How innovative can polka-dots be?  But it is the level of detail in which she dedicates each dot, and the massive scale in which she presents her art that makes them spectacular.  Through her, the pattern becomes anything but mundane.
self-obliteration by dots (1968). photo.
"My artwork is an expression of my life, particularly of my mental disease." Yayoi Kusama.

so intense. photo.
Kusama committed herself to a mental institution, due to her long-suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is inspirational that she is able to transform her disease into beauty, her obsession into visual treasures that touch millions.
you who are getting obliterated in the dancing swarm of fireflies (2005). photo.
This installation for the Phoenix Museum of Art, called You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies, consists of a room covered with mirrors to reflect the LED lights suspended throughout.  A person can literally feel as if his own being is being obliterated by the vastness of it all.  We are but one speck in the universe.

her obsession seems to engulf her. kusama & vuitton. photo.


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83 comments:

  2. i love love polka dots they never go out of fashion

    http://alwand.co.uk/index.php/my-style/2197-what-i-wore-tropical-print-pencil-skirt

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    1. So true! My mama is especially fond of them. ^^
      xx

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  3. I love polka dots- but there is something alarming yet visually stunning about her use of the pattern. I think with the last shot in particular- with the polka dot themed tentacles- it makes the pattern almost foreign and a touch predatory.

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    1. Oh, I really like your interpretation of her work. Especially the term "predatory." The tentacles practically loom over her, almost ready to strike.
      xx

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  4. I really like the old photo's, but the last one freaks me out!
    I don't have any polka dots clothes, I probably had them as a kid though :]

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    1. Hahah, same here a little bit. It's surprisingly intense!
      xx

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  5. I have a polka denim shirt and I love it!

    ♥ ThankFifi
    Thanks so much for your sweet comment on my post today

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    1. Ah, it sounds so awesome! And thank you for visiting :)
      xx

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  6. Definitely loving the polka dot trend, but I played it safe by purchasing a cream coloured top with black dots. Now that you've done a post with a red and white coloured scheme, it's making me think I should start looking for one soon! =)

    http://tseparfait.com

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    1. Hahah, I'm also not quite so bold. Most of the polka dotted things I own are black dots on white. With one skirt that's white dots on navy ( heehee ). ^^
      xx

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  7. great post! loveee polka dots :)

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  8. I love polka dots. I would let it engulf me too! :)

    xo, Yi-chia
    Always Maylee

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    1. Hahah, thanks for visiting Yi-chia!
      xx

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  9. I'm reading everyone else's comments and thinking I may the only person who absolutely loathes polka dots, lol. Its a phobia!! What you wrote about the circles in medieval times - still reigns true to me now!

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    1. Hahah, I think there are a lot of people who also don't like that pattern as well. So you're not alone! :)
      xx

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  10. I adore Kusama. Her work is so powerful. I went to an exhibition featuring her work a few years ago and it was an intense experience!

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    1. Oh wow, that is so amazing you got to go see it! I'd love for that opportunity, one day. Do you know what piece it was?
      xx

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  12. i'm a huge fan of her work! i've seen the fireflies installation in person and it is amazing, even the floor is covered in water and everything is mirrored, quite a surreal experience.. really enjoying the results of her latest collabo with lv!

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. WAH, you got to see that in person?! That's amazing! I had no idea the ground was covered in water too...truly an immersive experience. I like it. :)
      xx

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  13. Loved reading this. Thanks for the little insight into the history of polka dots. I actually don't own many polka dotted things, I'm more of a stripes person, perhaps I should try mix things up a little.

    Wardrobe Quarry

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    1. Thanks, Chloe! And definitely mix and match stuff! :)
      xx

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  14. I love all the polka dots! such great work!


    raspberrykitsch.com

    xx

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  15. I'll never look at polka dots the same way again :) I have a couple of tops that are polka dots, too. I feel like I've learned a lot and the history of polka dots! Thank you :) I love the fireflies photo. I wish I can see fireflies again. There's none here.

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    1. Aww, yeah same here. It's kind of disheartening. Thanks for visiting, Nyuu!
      xx

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  16. Wow I didn't know about her and it is so interesting post to read! Thanks for sharing and you made me love to she her works more :)) xo akiko
    Style Imported

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  17. Haha, alright, confession time because I am not the hugest fan of polka dots. I think they can be cute...on other people! It's very possible I was forced to wear too many polka dotted items as a child that I feel I've had enough on my body for a lifetime. I'm glad that Kusama seems to be getting more mainstream exposure these days (even though she's been around for ages and I'm a huge fan of the type of work she brings in this post-modern art age) and a couple of weeks ago I was actually able to see her new piece at the Whitney Museum– amazing pretty much sums up my feelings about it.

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    1. Oh, do you know what that piece was called? I definitely hope to one day see her works in person. I'm in awe over them when I browse them on my computer - I can only imagine how I'd feel if it were literally right in front of and looming over me.
      anyways, hahah, I can understand how you'd be sick of it if you had to wear it so much as a child! ^^
      xx

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  18. Polka dots are amazing. I love love love polka dots, but my favourite colours would definitely have to be pastel blue, purple, pink and green. <3

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    1. Hahah, they're such vibrant colors!
      xx

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  19. Dots are my love as well. Her inspiration is just.... whole another world, no one could copy that one. Very smart, a piece of art. Thanks for your comment<3

    Little K.
    http://lilkfashionista.blogspot.jp/

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    1. Thanks for visiting!
      xx

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  20. Minnie is cute.
    Love polka dots=)

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  21. Great post on polka dots. I love polka dots and was excited about her collaboration with Louis Vuitton.

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  22. I still love Minnie Mouse haha and the Yayoi Kusama for Louis Vuitton collection is amazing.

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    1. Oh, so true. So vibrant, her colors!
      xx

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  23. eep who knew polkadots could be so.. hypnotising. I feel like I've just discovered Willy Wonka land or an Alfred Hitchcock movie. I'm entranced haha

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    1. Hahah, what an apt description!
      xx

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  24. That is crazy that she was able to transform her disorder into something productive - very special. I hear polka dotted swim suits are not the way to go if you are swimming in open water - you might get some fish nibbles!

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    1. Woah, seriously?? Ah that's scary! Thank goodness I passed on buying on dotted swim suit then. ^^
      xx

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  25. she is such a cool woman - she did a collaboration earlier this year with louis vuitton that was amazing, i love her use of dots -it's really freat.

    <3 katherine
    of corgis and cocktails

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    1. Yes, her work with LV is so cool!
      xx

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  26. She is such an inspiration! Love her.

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  27. Really inspiring that she self-committed herself and still has been such a powerful artist. I love that image of the swarm of fireflies, too! I bet that exhibit is a trip.

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    1. Exactly what I thought! She's amazing~
      xx

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  28. thanks for polka dot history lesson!

    this is definitely my favorite little trend right now. love the dots!

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  29. Replies

    1. Thanks for visiting, Krimly!
      xx

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  30. Hi dear, thanks for your comment...have a great Friday!

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    1. Hahah, of course, and thank you! :)
      xx

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  31. I absolutely love Yayoi Kusama!!

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  32. I love polka dots. In fact I have a decorating scheme built around them. I guess the association to disease back in olden times did make them less than attractive. I didn't know about Yayoi Kusama's OCD but it's amazing how she was able to channel it into her art.

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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    1. I am truly in awe over her. I feel like that would deter anyone to stop, but for her, she makes it work for her. <3
      xx

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  33. I love polka dots, but in my closet I can find only 1 item with them. Isn't that bizarre? I think I need to get a polka dot skirt or a cardigan for Fall.

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    1. Oh please do! I'd love to see it ^^
      xx

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  34. woow this is so nice! :O

    http://thehiddenroots.blogspot.mx/

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  35. I saw this in an LV store while I was in San Francisco. I found the creepy crawly display a little unsettling...I usually idolize LV for its classic elegance and found this a slight step down from their usual grace.

    But heck, what do I know? :)


    d a n i e l l e | daniellewu.com

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    1. Oh, I understand - that was how I felt when I first saw it. But then, thinking about it more, I really like that LV got into the spirit of Kusama. Her work is consistently overwhelming, almost, to people, so now I kinda love those displays.
      xx

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  36. thank you for your comment on my blog,dear..
    your blog is great! :D

    ReplyDelete

  37. wow! great to yayoi kusama!!... never thought of her.. i really like polka dots, polka dots are somewhat appealing to the eyes, its still blooming in the fashion industry.. by the way, i really appreciate your post, very informative and interesting!
    HAVE A BRILLIANT DAY!!!
    greetings from ヽ(^。^)ノ

    http://cupofpinktea.blogspot.com/

    ヽ(●＾o＾●)ノ Cup of Pink Tea ♥♥♥

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  38. I like this pattern :)

    http://anna-and-klaudia.blogspot.com/

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  39. "transforming a disease into beauty" she's indeed such an inspiration. That LV-collab with polka tentacles scene is such a stunning one!

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    1. Agreed! She amazes me.
      xx

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  40. Polka dots are ok, but I don't like to overdo with them

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    1. Everything in moderation. :)
      xx

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  41. I love Yayoi Kusama too, when I was in London last week we walked past Selfridges & saw the huge displays for her collaboration with LV in all the main windows. I totally forgot they were doing the display, so it was a nice surprise to walk past & just see millions of polka dots! It definitely put a smile on my face! I wish I could get to the Phoenix's exhibition, it looks amazing, beautiful & yet a little eerie too!

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    1. Wah, that is so cool, Steph! I've only seen one of her displays, from the LV store in a mall near me. It was so eye-catching. ^^
      xx

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  42. HEY GREAT BLOG !!!
    Maybe we follow each other!? let me know :-) Greetings www.yuliekendra.com

    ReplyDelete

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