“I believe that eyes are very important motifs. That’s something that can discern the peace and love.”
— Yayoi KusamaExecuted in 2004, The Girls is a vibrant example of Japanese art world phenomenon Yayoi Kusama’s celebrated visual language that speaks to both her ongoing exploration into the concept of the infinite, as well as the power of femininity—a focus which has long been central to her art and continues to be one of her most central motifs. Masterfully rendered in acrylic and felt pen on canvas, the work features a captivating canary-yellow background onto which Kusama has drawn intricate black line with a doodle-like aesthetic. Interconnected female faces cover the painting, which have been detailed with blocks of ruby red that highlight the muses’ large eyes and lips, and long strands of beaded earrings.
As the various elements come together, they create a vivid image that celebrates womanhood, as indicted by its title, The Girls. Just as the bold pattern and colour can be seen as illustrating female strength, the intertwining shapes and line capture the both the interconnectedness and resilience of femininity; reminding us that we are stronger together than apart.
Kusama’s largest retrospective in Asia, Yayoi Kusma: 1945 to Now, is currently on view at the M+ Museum in Hong Kong until 14 May 2023. The exhibition features over 200 works across various international collections, the M+ collection as well as the artist’s own collection. On show in the final gallery space are a number of artworks from Kusama’s mature period, which are comparable to The Girls.
Phillips recently set the artist’s top result at auction, in New York in May 2022, with the sale of Untitled (Nets) (1969) which hammered down for a remarkable 10,496,000 USD with buyer’s premium. Indicative of the ongoing strength of Kusama’s market, this overtook her previous top result at auction, which had been set in Hong Kong in December 2021.