KVT – Dots, Tentacles and Cutouts

KVT and two Japanese ladies

One of the best art pieces around town is dressing the Louis Vuitton window display in the Sofitel in Ngo Quyen Street

Some big businesses buy a concept from famous artists and use it as decorative PR. And window dressing – as did the Louis Vuitton chain of up-market designer stores. They purchased the rights to the conceptual ideas of elderly Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama who’s been around since 1929 and is considered to be one of the finest living, avant garde Japanese artists. Recently she sold a work for $5 million.

When I stood in the middle of one of her huge red and white polka dotted pieces at the Sydney Biennale in 2000 it was one of those truly memorable art moments that refuse to be erased from my mind. Here’s a link to a lot of her usually polka dotted, more often than not, red and white, prodigious output that has a fabulous degree of sexuality emanating through it.

When a lot of people talk about Yayoi Kusama they fixate on her psychological state rather than her very delicious work…pretty stupid really! A bit like obsessing with Beethoven’s deafness and not listening to his music.

Also in Hanoi, at the Japan Foundation, is another successful Japanese artist who works from a different end of the spectrum. Kanako Yaguchi actively collaborates with the fashion industry and is engaged by stores to design displays and logos. Her designs are transferred to useful things like fabrics and home wares.

This artist mainly works in paper doing paper cutouts or kirigami…a traditional Japanese craft that probably had its roots in origami. To find out more about her art practice click onto this Grapevine link.

It’s a nice little exhibition. Decorative definitely! Sometimes a bit twee but with enough oomph to get your juices flowing.

Being a bit of a textile freak I was taken in by the printed fabrics.

I also liked the lacey cutout that was made in aluminum.