Snail

Medium: Screen-print in colors on Izumi paper
[11 screens, 10 colors, 11 runs]
Year: 1989
Image: 45.4 x 52.8 cm (17.9 x 20.8 inches)
Sheet: 53.5 x 61 cm (21.1 x 24 inches)
Edition: 100
Artist’s Proofs: 8 AP
Printer: Ishida Ryoichi, Tokyo
Literature: ABE 127
Yayoi Kusama Prints 1979-2017, ABE PUBLISHING LTD, Number 127, Illustrated page 84

Signed, dated, and numbered in pencil on lower edge

 

Snails hold a unique symbolism in Yayoi Kusama’s work, particularly within her exploration of earth-bound creatures. In her art, snails often represent themes of patience, persistence, and the slow but steady progress of life. The snail’s spiral shell, a recurring motif in Kusama’s prints, mirrors her fascination with infinity and the cyclical nature of existence.

The slow, deliberate movement of snails can be seen as a metaphor for Kusama’s own artistic journey, marked by continuous effort and enduring determination. Despite the challenges and obstacles she has faced, like the snail, she progresses steadily, embracing the journey rather than rushing toward the destination. The spiral shape of the snail’s shell is also significant, echoing the repetitive patterns that Kusama uses to express her experiences with obsessive thoughts and hallucinations. This spiral can be seen as a symbol of the inward and outward journey of self-discovery and the infinite possibilities of the mind.

In this way, snails in Kusama’s art symbolize both the meditative pace of life and the intricate beauty found in the smallest details of the natural world. They remind us that even the most modest creatures possess profound wisdom, embodying the themes of endurance and the quiet, persistent strength that defines Kusama’s work.

 

 

 

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Auction Results

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Est-Ouest Auctions Tokyo: 25 November 2023
Estimated: JPY 2,000,000 – 3,000,000
JPY 3,680,000 / USD 24,625

YAYOI KUSAMA
SNAIL, 1989
Screenprint
Signed, titled, dated and edition in the margin

Seoul Auction: 26 April 2022
Estimated: KRW 46,000,000 – 75,000,000
KRW 73,160,000 / USD 58,520

YAYOI KUSAMA
Snail, 1989
Screenprint
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 52/100 on the recto

SBI Art Auction: 29 January 2022
Estimated: JPY 1,800,000 – 2,800,000
JPY 5,060,000 / USD 43,900

YAYOI KUSAMA
Snail (Kusama 127), 1989
Screenprint
Signed, titled, dated and numbered from the edition of 100

Phillips London: 9 June 2016
Estimated: GBP 2,000 – 3,000
GBP 5,625 / USD 8,200