Yayoi Kusama was born in 1929, in Matsumoto, Japan.

She is a
Japanese artist who described herself as an “obsessional artist”: she
became famous for her extensive use of polka dots and for her infinity
installations. She didn’t want to employ painting and sculpture only, but
performance art, and installations as well. Her variety of styles took
inspiration from Pop art and Minimalism.
Kusama began painting as a child, and in her teenage years she
experienced hallucinations that often involved fields of dots. Those hallucinations and the theme of dots
fuelled her art throughout her career. Did she attend any art school? You might ask. Well, from 1948 to
1949 she studied at the Kyōto City Specialist School of Arts, but her family didn’t want her to pursue the
artistic career back then. However, her passion drove her to move in 1957 to the United States, where
she tried to live a new life and finally settled in New York City. Before leaving Japan, she destroyed many
of her early paintings.
What did she do next?

Affirmative Interrogative Negative

Regular Irregular Did she attend? didn’t want
Described, experienced, was born, Took, became,
involved, fuelled, studied, began, drove did she do next?
tried, settled, destroyed

Simple past time expressions Uso

  1) Fatti/azioni iniziati e terminati nel passato:
  es: from 1948 to 1949 she studied at
  the Kyōto; from 2020 to 2023 I studied at IIS
Zerboni
2) Descrivere una successione di 2 o più eventi:
es: she tried to live a new life and finally
settled in New York City; yesterday I studied
English and I had dinner
3) Espressioni di tempo determinato che
indicano un fatto concluso nel passato
es: Kusama began painting as a child

Recap exercise
1. What did she employ in her art? ________________________________________________
2. What did she make of her hallucinations? ________________________________________
3. What did she do to become an artist? Was it was easy, for a woman in the late 50s?
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Since the 1960s, she has become famous for her avant-garde art and distinctive style. For many years,
she has drawn and has built mesmerizing artworks that blurred the lines between art, fashion, and pop
culture. Her career has evolved over 6 decades, during which she has obtained international prestige for
her unique installations.

One of her most recognizable works, All the Eternal Love I Have for the
Pumpkins, is a great mix of patterns, shapes, and perspectives so innovative
that it has never failed to enchant visitors.

Her dedication and passion for art have always inspired people around her,
and she has remained an influential figure in the contemporary art scene so
far.

Present perfect simple – formation

she has become It has failed

subject have/has past participle (irregular) subject have/has past participle (regular -ed)

Affirmative Interrogative Negative

Regular Irregular
has evolved has become Has she become? She hasn’t become
has obtained has drawn Has she obtained? She hasn’t obtained
has failed has built
have inspired
has remained

Present perfect time expressions Usage

Since always
1) An experience(s) which happened at the
For over
unspecified moment in the past
never so far ex:
_______________________________________
2) A past action which has a result in the present
ex:
_______________________________________
3) A situation that started in the past and continues in
the present
ex: ____________________________________

Recap exercise: answer the question using the present perfect simple (try to find some synonyms)
1. What has she done for the past 6 decades?
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