Analysis Of Yayoi Kusama's Dot Obsession

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The world is a dark and dangerous place. From the raging conflicts throughout the world to the mass shootings that occur too often for not reason, people cannot seem to escape the brutality that has become a common occurrence. While most people tend to think of brutality as what is depicted on the news, from rioting and violence to the abuse of power in a way that harms others, people fail to understand how brutality is not simply one person/group causing excessive harm on another, but includes how one can be brutal towards oneself. The world continues to be oblivious to this type of brutality and has left many of those suffering alone without a way to seek help. Mental illness is one of the driving factors of this kind of brutality. Mental …show more content…

The room was also filled with massive latex balloons of the same pattern. The windows of the room were very reflective, giving the illusion that the dot pattern continued infinitely. While this piece may seem playful with its use of a bright primary color and its repeated pattern, it discusses an mental illness that is commonly overlooked, neurosis. Kusama creates pieces that reflect the mind and thoughts that are an outcome of her mental illness. The dots are representative of the repetitiveness of those living with neurosis and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The use of this pattern with the mirrored windows provides the installation with visual depth, giving the illusion that the piece is repeating endlessly. Similar to someone living with OCD, people’s thoughts/actions are repetitive to the point where their actions may seem overwhelming and “too much.” This piece forces the viewer to enter the mind of someone with OCD and understand how it works. They are able to see that the dots are similar to a person’s thoughts/actions, that they are continuous and repetitive. Although they might not understand why a person thinks this way, they are able to see how cluttered their mind is and how doing simple tasks can be a challenge when living with this illness. The vibrant yellow used throughout the piece signals the chaos and disarray going on in one’s mind and places more emphasis on the dots. With the various dots scattered throughout the piece, it becomes hard to focus on a single part. This inability to focus reflects how those with OCD must follow their repetitions in order to feel complete and secure. This piece may make people feel like the mind of someone with OCD is “organized chaos,” but encourages an understanding of the repetitive and obsessive behaviors behind

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