Yayoi Kusama dreams up new version of The Little Mermaid

It’s been a pretty big year for Yayoi Kusama. Over the last 12 months, the 87-year-old artist has tried out a new career in interior design, opened a major London retrospective, and brought a selection of bulbous pink snails to Hawaii. She’s also – if all that wasn’t enough – casually taken on some fairytale illustration; creating a new version of The Little Mermaid for a new Lousiana Museum of Modern Art collaboration.

Using a selection of surreal pen-and-ink drawings, the Japanese-born icon has radically reimagined Hans Christian Anderson’s 1839 story. Her version – which is apparently out on July 26 – is called The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen & Yayoi Kusama: A Fairy Tale of Infinity and Love Forever, and features a number of illustrations from her Love Forever series (2004-2007). This includes her trademark tinkers with polka dots, abstract eyes and feminine profiles.

“In the past few years there have been many exhibitions of my work touring the world,” Kusama told Dazed back in May. “I would like people to feel my creation and its message. Once they manage to feel it, I am reminded of the greatness of the hymn of being human and the mystery of it and that makes me very happy.”

Learn more about Kusama’s latest project on the official Lousiana Museum of Modern Art website here.