What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “polka-dot”? Over here at ARTSQ, we think of contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who made polka dots part of her trademark in the 1950s and still uses them in creative ways to this day. In this video, we’ll look at one of Yayoi Kusama’s artworks, a colorful woodblock print designed by the artist in 2014, to practice the skill of close looking. In art history, close looking is the first step in doing something called a formal analysis, which is an analysis of things like the elements of art and the principles of design. If you’ve ever wondered how to do a formal analysis, our close-looking series offers an excellent first step!

Get to know Kusama!

Kusama’s woodblock print, titled Where the Universe and Human Life Are, is part of a series of seven prints featuring one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks: the active volcano Mount Fuji. Take the first step to get to know Yayoi Kusama, an amazing female contemporary artist and her colorful print, by watching the video!