Learn How to Pronounce Yayoi Kusama | YouPronounce.it

How to Pronounce Yayoi Kusama

Quick Answer: In Japanese, the name Yayoi Kusama is pronounced [kɯsama jajo-i].
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)

Meaning and Context

Yayoi Kusama, born in Matsumoto, Japan in 1929, is a preeminent and profoundly influential Japanese contemporary artist whose seven-decade career has left an indelible mark on the global art landscape. Her signature polka dots (or "infinity nets") and mesmerizing infinity mirror rooms have become iconic, creating immersive art experiences that explore deep psychological themes of obsession, infinity, and self-obliteration, often informed by her lifelong experiences with mental health. Kusama's avant-garde work, which spans vibrant paintings, large-scale sculptures, provocative performance art, and groundbreaking installations, has been the subject of major museum exhibitions at institutions like the Tate Modern, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the Hirshhorn Museum, where her "Infinity Mirrored Rooms" consistently attract record-breaking audiences. Her influence extends beyond contemporary art into fashion and popular culture, solidifying her status as a best-selling artist and a central figure in post-war art movements, including pop art and minimalism.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The artist's name, 草間彌生, is most commonly romanized as "Yayoi Kusama." However, several variations and common errors exist. The most frequent typo is misspelling her first name as "Yayoi" (with an extra 'i') or "Yayo." Her surname is sometimes incorrectly written as "Kasuma" or "Kusuma." In traditional kanji, her given name is written as "彌生," but in modern Japanese simplified characters, it is often seen as "弥生." Both "Yayoi Kusama" and "Yayoi Kusama" (with the macron) are considered correct, though the macron is often omitted in common English usage. Searches may also include phrases like "Kusama polka dots," "Kusama infinity room," or "Kusama pumpkin," referencing her iconic motifs. It is important to distinguish her from other artists and to use the correct romanization for optimal discoverability in searches related to Japanese contemporary art, immersive installations, and museum exhibitions.

Example Sentences

Visitors waited for hours to secure a timed ticket for Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away at the museum's retrospective.

The artist's iconic yellow pumpkin sculpture, covered in a relentless pattern of black polka dots, has become a symbol of Naoshima island's art installations.

Kusama's early work in New York, including her provocative "Anatomic Explosion" happenings, positioned her as a critical figure alongside pop art contemporaries like Andy Warhol.

Critics often analyze how Kusama's obsessive repetition of forms in her infinity net paintings is intimately connected to her personal psychological narratives.

The touring exhibition "Yayoi Kusama: Cosmic Nature" brilliantly showcased her lifelong fascination with organic forms and the natural world at the New York Botanical Garden.

Related Pronunciations

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