Introduction

FLOWERS A/B/C depict stylized still-life compositions of flowers, arranged in a flower pot, against a backdrop filled with Kusama’s signature “infinity net” or dot patterns. The colors are vivid but tend towards more “naturalistic hues of red, green and yellow,” presenting a more “playful simplicity” and “grounded” feel compared to her more intense, later works. The flowers are clearly defined but enveloped by the repetitive patterns, which blur the lines between the subject and the background.

The flowers in this series serve as a powerful, ambivalent symbol in Kusama’s oeuvre. They simultaneously represent abundant life and vitality, while also symbolizing a profound fear and obsession that stems from childhood hallucinations. By obsessively repeating the image of flowers in her art, Kusama engages in a process of art therapy, reclaiming control over the overwhelming visions that have plagued her since childhood. The use of repetitive dots and net patterns reflects her desire for “self-obliteration” and an exploration of the infinite universe, making solid objects appear to dissolve into an endless field. The screenprint technique allows for highly saturated, flat areas of color and crisp delineation of the intricate dot and net patterns, achieving the vibrant visual effect characteristic of Kusama’s prints.

 

FLOWERS A/B/C (ABE 343-345), 2005

 

FLOWERS A/B/C

Medium: Screen-print in colors on Kakita-shi paper with Lame
[5 screens, 4 colors, 6 runs] for FLOWERS A/B
[4 screens, 4 colors, 5 runs] for FLOWERS C
Lame [2 colors]
Year: 2005
Image: 61×51 cm (24 x 20.1 inches)
Sheet: 71.5 x 60.3 cm (28.1 x 23.7 inches)
Edition: 50
Artist’s Proofs: 6 AP
Printer’s Proofs: 5 PP (6 PP for FLOWERS A)
Publisher: OKABE PRINT EDITIONS Ltd.
Printer: Okabe Tokuzo, Tokyo
Literature: ABE 343-345
ABE Publishing Ltd., Yayoi Kusama: Prints 1979-2017, Tokyo, 2017, Numbers 343-345, Illustrated pages 195-196

 

1. FLOWERS A (ABE 343)

2. FLOWERS B (ABE 344)

3. FLOWERS C (ABE 345)

 

 

 

FLOWERS A (ABE 343)

SBI Art Auction: 25 October 2024
Estimated: JPY 3,000,000 – 5,000,000
JPY 4,600,000 / USD 30,202

YAYOI KUSAMA
FLOWERS A (Kusama 343), 2005
Screenprint, lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered
A Printer’s Proof aside from the edition of 50

Mainichi Auction: 29 October 2022
Estimated: JPY 2,000,000 – 3,000,000
JPY 4,600,000 (Hammer)
JPY 5,359,000 / USD 36,335

YAYOI KUSAMA
FLOWERS A (Kusama 343), 2005
Screenprint, lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered
From the edition of 50

China Guardian: 7 October 2022
Estimated: HKD 200,000 – 300,000
HKD 384,000 / USD 48,920

YAYOI KUSAMA
FLOWERS A, 2005
Screenprint with Lame
Titled in English, numbered 12/50 and dated on bottom left
Signed in English on bottom right

Mallet Japan: 9 December 2021
Estimated: JPY2,500,000 – 3,500,000
JPY 4,600,000 (Hammer)
JPY 5,359,000 / USD 47,205

YAYOI KUSAMA
FLOWERS A, 2005
Screenprint in colours, lamé on Kakita-shi
Signed, from the edition of 50 (there were also 6 A.P.)

 

 

 

FLOWERS B (ABE 344)

SBI Art Auction: 12 April 2025
Estimated: JPY 3,000,000 – 5,000,000
JPY 3,450,000 / USD 23,995

YAYOI KUSAMA
FLOWERS B (Kusama 344), 2005
Screenprint, lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered
From the edition of 50

 

FLOWERS C (ABE 345)

SBI Art Auction: 6 July 2024
Estimated: JPY 2,500,000 – 3,500,000
JPY 3,680,000 / USD 22,893

YAYOI KUSAMA
FLOWERS C (K. 345), 2005
Screenprint, lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered
From the edition of 50

Mainichi Auction: 29 June 2024
Estimated: JPY 2,000,000 – 3,000,000
JPY 5,290,000 / USD 32,880

YAYOI KUSAMA
FLOWERS C (K. 345), 2005
Screenprint, lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered
From the edition of 50

Est-Ouest Auctions Tokyo: 25 November 2023
Estimated: JPY 3,000,000 – 5,000,000
JPY 6,095,000 / USD 40,780

YAYOI KUSAMA
FLOWERS C, 2005
Screenprint, lamé
Signed, titled, dated and edition in the margin

K Auction Seoul: 27 January 2022
Estimated: KRW 35,000,000 – 70,000,000
KRW 36,800,000 / USD 30,545

YAYOI KUSAMA
FLOWERS C, 2005
Screenprint, lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered on the front

Mallet Japan: 22 July 2021
Estimated: JPY 2,500,000 – 3,500,000
JPY 3,800,000 (Hammer)
JPY 4,427,000 / USD 40,205

YAYOI KUSAMA
FLOWERS C (K. 345), 2005
Screenprint in colors on Kakita-shi, lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered
From the edition of 50