The Japanese artist, who celebrates her 90th year with a solo print exhibition at Shanghai’s Ota Fine Arts Gallery, talks polka dots and self-love.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Happiness is when I make a good artwork.
What is your greatest fear? Nowadays the world is anxious with war and many people dying, and every now and then I think deeply about the life and death of a human being.
Which historical figure do you most identify with? No one but myself.
Which living person do you most admire? No one but myself.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? There is nothing. I adore myself.
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Nothing.
What is your greatest extravagance? I have never thought about such as I am constantly busy with painting and thinking about my art.
What is your favorite journey? Recently my only journey is going to my studio to paint.
Which living person do you most despise? I feel resentment at artists who forgot how precious creation is and have a life of doing things by halves.
What is your greatest regret? I do not have any as I am responsible for my own life.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? I have always been busy with creation and never had the time to fall in love.
Which talent would you most like to have? The talent to be able to paint forever.
What is your current state of mind? Feeling the final day of my life approaching, I think about becoming a great person, a great artist, and leaving great artworks in this world. I spend every day trying to make all possible efforts that one person can, and I want to do so until this life expires. This is everything that my art has reached. I will keep my struggle to send the message of Yayoi Kusama to future generations until the end of my life.
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