Kusama: Infinity

I wish I saw this 2018 documentary before I saw Yayoi Kusama's wondrously expansive exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden last year because it would've given me a deeper appreciation of the genesis of her art and how she views the enveloping scope of nature, something she realized she shared with Georgia O'Keefe. As seen through her unique eye-popping pieces, Kusama's colorful expressiveness is meticulously hypnotic, and filmmaker Heather Lenz does a remarkably thorough job tracking the now-93-year-old artist's relentless tenacity in light of the racism and sexism she faced over the decades in getting her art seen.

An infinitely amazing, thoughtful, compassionate and deeply profound look at one of the most influential and unsung artists of the modern era. Director Heather Lenz captures the eccentric essence of this fascinating figure, while also making a bigger statement about overlooked female artists and artists of color. It creates a compelling and shocking case for how Kusama's vision influenced greats like Warhol, but how she got none of the credit. The exclusive footage Lenz caught of Kusama is amazing and rare. This film demands to be seen because Kusama demands to be known.

Although Yayoi Kusama was an artist I knew about, I didn't know much about her background and her legacy. Lenz did an amazing job of weaving the cultural history, the political backdrop of the time Kusama was trying to pave her way as an artist with such grace and curiosity while portraying the present day Kusama with such compassionate humanity. I was mesmerized. Needless to say this film offers a tremendous value culturally and historically. It should be a required film to watch, especially for art history students!

Yayoi Kusama is one of the most popular living artists, but it wasn't always that way. This engaging film chronicles her difficult road to success, overcoming incredible obstacles. For those intrigued by her "Infinity Rooms" this film is a must see!

This has to be one of the best documentaries I've seen this year. This film really makes justice to one of the greatest artists of our time. The way Kusama's work is depicted on screen is absolutely incredible. At times, it almost feels like you've been absorbed by one of her paintings. This film also reveals key facts of her life and the art scene of the time. You'll be blown away! Definitely there should be more documentaries like this. A must-see on the big screen!

Score: 10/10

FJ Medina