by Noelani
When I close my eyes and think of the before-times, I see art.
High Heels for Going to Heaven (2013) by Yayoi Kusama sits just past the security checkpoint in Terminal 2 of San Francisco International Airport. Large flowers burst from a pair of cartoony, polka-dotted, high-heeled shoes. They rest on a dais that appears to float, and slashes of light reflect from every angle of the sculpture. They are plastic with stainless steel “eyes” at the center of each flower. Red, white, silver. Vibrant and vibrating with joy.
There’s no doubt about it—the placement post-security feels deliberate and cheeky. You’ve slipped your shoes back on and just as you round the corner, bam—you’re confronted with two oversized pumps in bloom. As the polished domes literally mirror the viewer, they also work to mirror the airport experience. The shoes conjure images of the jet-set dressing up for flights, and the act of partially disrobing for security. The reflective convex centers speak to self-awareness and voyeurism; that feeling of being watched and, as artist and arts writer Sarah Hotchkiss notes, “a reminder of the many watchful ‘eyes’ in the airport at large.” Meanwhile, the flowers reach upwards towards the sky, as if to signal change, growth … or perhaps foreshadow your upcoming flight.
I don’t believe Kusama designed this work for SFO or any particular site, so it may seem like a stretch to dissect High Heels as if it had been born in the airport. But it is the context—its place of installation—that helps give the work meaning. Spotted shoes sprouting flowers would take on new interpretations were they part of a museum show about fashion, or a gallery show featuring Kusama’s entire oeuvre. Every viewer brings with them a different perspective. Every location and occasion spur different readings.
The airport is often a hectic place, and the high-contrast polka dots—one of Kusama’s signature motifs—channel that chaotic energy. They also complicate it. The work’s wall text quotes Kusama:
“A polka dot has the form of the sun, which is a symbol of the energy of the whole world and our living life, and also the form of the moon, which is calm. Round, soft, colorful, senseless and unknowing. Polka dots become movement … Polka dots are a way to infinity.”
The polka dots Kusama describes embody both energy and calmness, and are directly connected to her obsessional neurosis. As a child, she hallucinated vividly, seeing dots, nets and flowers dance around her room. These visual elements figure prominently in Kusama’s work as a therapeutic approach to “self-obliterate” the hallucinations and heal through art. If we narrow our tunnel vision to Kusama, instead of the airport, we encounter a whole new lens with which to view the work.
And yet, sitting in my apartment with serious wanderlust, I can’t help but think about High Heels in Terminal 2 and the moment I first saw it—three years ago, at 6am, on the way to Los Angeles. Back then, I wasn’t thinking about any of this. I was groggy. I was dehydrated. I was basking in the ecstasy of seeing my favorite artist’s work. When I am fully vaccinated and feel comfortable boarding a plane again, I will arrive at the airport three hours early for every trip just to look at the art. It will mean something different to me. I just know it.
Shit We’re Loving: LISTEN
Noelani’s Pick: The Stacks Podcast on Spotify
I’m pretty picky when it comes to podcasts, and I am not overexaggerating when I say that The Stacks is the best book podcast out there. Traci Thomas is a smart, enthusiastic and empathetic host, and her interviews with authors, journalists, bookstagrammers and other notable guests are true literary gold. Her monthly book club selections are always fresh, and her merch has me saying to myself daily, “I think I need another hoodie.” There are over a hundred episodes to catch up on, and she’s likely spoken to some of your favorite writers already. New episodes air every Wednesday, so go to wherever you listen to podcasts and check out the latest interview with Hanif Abdurraqib.
Show Your Support: Environmental Defense Fund
With Earth Day falling at the end of April, this month’s supported organization is one of our country's most influential nonprofit boards: the Environmental Defense Fund or EDF. For more than 50 years, EDF has been the pioneer, using science and different perspectives, to make the environment safer and healthier for all of us.
Rigorous science is our bedrock. It drives everything we do.
So far, thanks to EDF’s efforts, 4 million acres have been protected, ensuring 63 rare species have a safe place to live. On top of that, EDF Climate Corps fellows have uncovered $1.6 billion in energy savings for top companies. And 28 countries around the world have worked with EDF to prioritize and solve the most critical environmental problems. Their concerns lie with the climate, renewable energy and resources, protecting ecosystems, cleaning the oceans, and overall health for us and our planet.
In the Our Trust Fund fashion, this month we will donate $100 to EDF and encourage you to learn more about EDF and give too. Click the button below to do both!
Daily Intention
Today I will…
Find art in an unexpected place.
Here’s some nifty buttons for you to press, enjoy: