“A tree or a small plant growing wild, in my view, is architecture in every sense of the word, capable of teaching us lessons on any subject, starting with geometry: otherwise, they would not be able to stand upright and would fail to fulfil their functions.” Interview

The relationship between reality and representation, symbols that become a personal vocabulary, and an art form that does not claim to change the world: “It is a way of understanding things, of expressing fears and joys. The responsibility lies with everyone, or perhaps with everyone except the artists”

According to the visual artist, who teaches at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, art is valuable for its ability to capture attention and convey the complexity of the present moment: “It should not educate the public; it should spur them to exist.”

“In recent years, gossip has increasingly become a way of working. I’m interested in it not so much as a form of malicious curiosity, but as a means of transmission. After all, every story comes about because someone told it to someone else.” Interview

The artist who sought to erase the self through dots, mirrors and repetition has become one of the most recognisable figures in contemporary art. From radical outsider to pop icon, right through to Louis Vuitton handbags: the paradox of Yayoi Kusama lies precisely here

I am interested in understanding how we cope with moments of transformation, loss or vulnerability, and what tools we use to make sense of them. Whilst it used to be mainly our closest relationships that fulfilled this role, today we increasingly turn to digital platforms, forums or artificial intelligence systems as well.

“The function of art today is to escape administration, good taste, beauty and the common good. Art is elitist, but not for those who have a credit card, but for those who have the time to look and reflect.” Interview