November 2, 2018
Yayoi Kusama Foundation
Yayoi Kusama, DirectorDeclaration against Exhibitions of Forged Yayoi Kusama Works
An investigation by the Yayoi Kusama Foundation has revealed that forgeries of the works of prominentinternational artist Yayoi Kusama have been exhibited in multiple locations around China as recently as
September 2018 without the permission of the artist or the Foundation. These unauthorized exhibitions
have been held under titles including “草间弥生×村上隆双联展” (Joint Exhibition of Yayoi Kusama andTakashi Murakami) in Shanghai and Changsha of Hunan Province.
The Foundation hereby makes a declaration against the actions of the organizers of these exhibitions,which consist of forgeries and in every case have been held without the permission of Yayoi Kusama or theFoundation. The forgeries on display have caused significant damage to the international brand andreputation of Yayoi Kusama. Such actions are a serious infringement of the artist’s copyright andinternational fame and brand and harm the interests of the Foundation. These dishonest acts are aviolation of public morals and decency of a notably malicious nature, and are a contemptible transgressionof the originality and copyrights of all artists. We therefore strongly condemn these actions.
The exhibition referenced above has already been suspended as a result of the Foundation’s declaration.
However, there are reports that fake exhibitions of this kind have also taken place in locations such as
Shenzhen, Guangzhou of Guangdong Province, Wuhan of Hubei Province, Suzhou of Jiangsu Province,Tianjin, Qingdao, Zibo of Shandong Province, Chongqing, and Xinjiang without the permission of Yayoi
Kusama or the Foundation. Other similar cases are currently under investigation too.
Yayoi Kusama reserves all of her intellectual properties (including, but not limited to, copyrights, namerights, and reputation rights), and no organization or person may use any of those rights without thepermission of Yayoi Kusama or the Foundation.
Yayoi Kusama and the Foundation will continue to actively protect all rights pertaining to Yayoi Kusama andher works, and encourage art experts, art museums and galleries to be vigilant so as not to become
involved in illegal acts such as these.
Any individual with information about a suspected unauthorized exhibition of forged works is asked tocontact the Foundation at the address below. In order to protect the interests of consumers andcollectors, please direct any inquiries regarding the authenticity of Yayoi Kusama’s works to the addressbelow.

Information regarding exhibitions of forged Yayoi Kusama works:
Yayoi Kusama Foundation: fe@yayoikusamamuseum.jp
Inquiries regarding the authenticity of Yayoi Kusama works:
Yayoi Kusama Inc.: registration@yayoi-kusama.jp*Verification of authenticity of Yayoi Kusama works is available at a charge.
Comments from Yayoi Kusama:I am very shocked to hear that forgeries of my works have been displayed across China and many people
visited these sites, believing these to be exhibitions of my works.
This is such a disappointing situation that my creations, which I’ve devoted my entire life to, have beenplagiarized and exposed to everyone in an improper form.
To the people of China, to everyone around the world, please stop such fraudulent exhibitions immediately.
Please experience the authentic presentation of my original artworks with your own eyes.
It is my sincere wish that we can overcome these challenges and create the greatest world together.
Yayoi Kusama
Comments from Akira Tatehata, Director of YAYOI KUSAMA MUSEUM:
The art of Yayoi Kusama has been showcased all over the world over the past few decades. Kusama’s
artistic practice through which she endeavors to save the world with her love, has now gained support
from people of all age and gender.
Forged works and fraudulent exhibitions of an avant-garde artist with such international recognition are aserious infringement of the artist’s copyright. Such actions also cause significant damage to thedevelopment of art in general.
In view of the further developments of the arts and culture in China, I sincerely ask everyone to respect anartist’s copyrights and not to be involved with such dishonest acts.
Akira Tatehata
Director
YAYOI KUSAMA MUSEUM

Comparison between authentic works and forgeries:<Authentic>
Yayoi Kusama
Dots Obsession
2015
Mixed media
Dimensions variable
Installation View: Louisiana Museum, Denmark 2015.
Courtesy: YAYOI KUSAMA FOUNDATION, Ota Fine Arts
©YAYOI KUSAMA<Authentic>
Yayoi Kusama
Dots Obsession - Day
2008
Mixed media
Dimensions variable
Installation View: "JAPAN! CULTURE + HYPER CULTURE"
at The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
Courtesy: YAYOI KUSAMA FOUNDATION©YAYOI KUSAMA<Forged>Installation View: Shanghai LuOne
Courtesy: YAYOI KUSAMA FOUNDATION<Forged>Installation View: Changsha Hisense Plaza
Courtesy: YAYOI KUSAMA FOUNDATION

<Authentic>
Yayoi Kusama
The Obliteration Room
2002-present
Furniture, white paint, dot stickers
Dimensions variable
Collaboration between Yayoi Kusama and Queensland ArtGallery.
Commissioned Queensland Art Gallery. Gift of the artist throughthe Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 2012. Collection:
Queensland Art Gallery, Australia
Photograph: Natasha Harth
Image courtesy: QAGOMA, YAYOI KUSAMA FOUNDATION©YAYOI KUSAMA<Forged>Installation View: Shanghai LuOne
Courtesy: YAYOI KUSAMA FOUNDATION

Hi-resolution images:
Authentic works of Yayoi Kusama:

https://bit.ly/2RlCYmt*Please download the images and credit lines.

Forgeries:

https://bit.ly/2EUPV5g*Please download the images and put a credit line “Courtesy: YAYOI KUSAMA FOUNDATION”.

List of exhibitions that may include forgeries: *There are other exhibitions currently under investigation.
#Host City

Host PlaceName of Exhibition

Exhibition Time

1Shenzhen

Shenzhen All City

Nov. 26 - Dec. 10, 2017

2Qingdao

Qingdao Hisense Plaza

3WuhanWuhan Dongyuan Lejian City

4Tianjin

GALAXY MALL TIANJIN

5Shanghai

Shanghai LuOneYAYOI KUSAMA & MURAKAMI TAKASHIJOINT ART EXHIBITION Shenzhen
StationYAYOI KUSAMA X MURAKAMI TAKASHIJOINT ART EXHIBITION Qingdao Station
YAYOI KUSAMA X MURAKAMI TAKASHICollection JOINT ART EXHIBITIONWuhan StationYAYOI KUSAMA X MURAKAMI TAKASHIWORK JOINT ART EXHIBITIONYAYOI KUSAMA & MURAKAMI TAKASHIJOINT ART EXHIBITION

6Changsha

Changsha Hisense PlazaYAYOI KUSAMA X MURAKAMI TAKASHIWORK JOINT ART EXHIBITION

7Guangzhou

I-club Yue Hai Chung Chung HuiInternational Pop Art Master Work
Joint Exhibition

Mar. 23 - May 4, 2018
May 26 – Jun. 10, 2018

Apr. 16 - Apr. 30, 2018
Sep. 22 - Oct. 21, 2018
(Discontinued fromOct. 1, 2018)
Sep. 19 - Nov. 8, 2018
(Discontinued fromOct. 25, 2018)
Oct. 8 - Nov. 11, 2018

Profile of Yayoi Kusama:
Avant-garde artist and novelist. Born in 1929 in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. From a young age,
Yayoi Kusama experienced visual and auditory hallucinations, and began creating net and polka-dot
pattern pictures. In 1957, she went to the United States and began making net paintings and soft
sculptures, as well as organizing happenings and developing installations that made use of mirrors andlights, establishing herself as an avant-garde artist. Overcoming various obsessions, she discovered anartistic philosophy of self-obliteration via the obsessive repetition and multiplication of single motifs. She
has held exhibitions at various museums throughout the world, and in recent years her large-scale
retrospective exhibitions at the Tate Modern and Pompidou Centre have elicited considerable responses.
She recorded more than 2 million visitors to her tours in Latin America and Asia, which led to her being
named the ‘world’s most popular artist in 2014’ by the Art Newspaper. In 2016, she received Japan’s Orderof Culture. In 2017, a North American tour of her work started at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture
Garden in Washington, D.C.