Not so long ago I treated myself and bought Yayoi Kusama’s autobiography: Infinity Net. Hoping to get a better understanding of the New York art scene. I must admit I’m not much wiser after reading it. A bit inspired to have more confidence about my work.
Years ago I read a biography about Joseph Cornell and have a very soft spot for this artist. After I read Yayoi’s version of their relationship I was a bit confused.
There are things that bother me…
for example in her book she says that “Joseph wore the shabbiest of clothes. He always looked like a tramp…” and in the other book it says: “Yayoi leans tenderly against Cornell, who is neatly dressed in a shirt, tie, and cardigan.”
Also…In the biography of Cornell it says: ” By the end of the month, he was requesting that Kusama not bother him further.” and she says: ” I was now a major player in New York, and simply too busy to spend time with him. And, though it may have been cruel of me, I went ahead and said as much”…
mmm…I cannot explain it properly, but I’ll try and show it in pictures:
This one is a photograph of Yayoi with Joseph Cornell in her book….
and then there is this one:
in the biography of Joseph Cornell (Utopia Parkway the life and work…) by Deborah Solomon.
As they say…there is always two sides to a story!