Kusama - Infinity

We recently (January 2019) screened Heather Lenz's documentary KUSAMA INFINITY for our Secret Movie Club audience at the Los Feliz 3 here in Los Angeles. The movie sold out (over 160+ attended) and folks drove from as far south as San Diego (100+ miles!!) to see it. What Lenz and her team really captures is just how hard Kusama had to fight her entire life to be recognized as the artistic genius she clearly is. Lenz does a really impressive job of clearly and cinematically communicating the cultural, gender, and historical barriers Kusama had to smash through (and sometimes painfully endure). We see the 80+ year fight Kusama had to put up just to gain the recognition her male art-world counterparts received (sometimes unmerited) without the same kind of fight. Lenz also has some amazing footage of Kusama creating an art piece in front of us and saying "sometimes the canvas just can't keep up with me". It's an amazing, magical moment. A very fascinating, watchable, great documentary about one of our time's greatest artists. A really amazing movie when you think about it. Check it out.

Filmmaker Heather Lenz was granted rare access to this renowned artist. What is really cool about this film is it confidently provides intimate view on the obstacle ridden journey of a female and Asian artist, which until this moment has been historically under represented in the world, much less in cinema. For those unfamiliar with Kusama’s work, Lenz’s film weaves a chronicle that breaks down any barriers to Kusama, making her accessible. It feels like Kusama is leading you through the film providing intimate anecdotes that are surprising funny, savvy and insightful. Perhaps one of the most touching parts of the film is how Kusama’s native Japan resolves its relationship with her as lost child scorned to embracing her as it’s pride of a nation. Through Kusama’s writing we understand her ambitions, obsessions and her risks taking decisions, as she is shown plowing through her own madness until ironically the art world finally gave her her due. Early on in the film when we are introduced to Kusama via a hypnotic sequence of shots we see Kusama close up, making an art piece on poster board. The camera pans slowly on thousands of little markings of graphic repetition that Kusama is drawing. At this moment we are granted entry into the purposeful, but at times unstable mind of the artist herself.

Loved watching this incredible story. Sometimes it takes a whole lifetime for an artist to be recognized for their contributions. It's a hard path that can beat you down, but the need to create doesn't go away. Amazing that after all Kusama had to endure her art is being appreciated in this way!

At times so heartbreaking, but offers a thorough immersion into the spirit and tenacity and mountains of joy that Kusama continues to bring to the world. Simply astounding that she came through it all. The most moving documentary I have seen in years!

This left a great many unanswered questions about her family relations and about the evolution of her ideas. In spite these questions, I got some good insight about the meaning of her work. 👍🏻👍🏻