Pumpkin (2022).
YAYOI KUSAMA’S LARGEST RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION AT M+ HONG KONG.
Yayoi Kusama emerged as a global cultural icon for the twenty-first century by pursuing her uncompromising avant-garde vision. Over the past seven decades, she honed a singular personal aesthetic and core philosophy of life. Kusama’s work captivates millions by offering glimpses of boundless space and reflections on natural cycles of regeneration. Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now narrates the story of this artist’s life and work, foregrounding her longing for interconnection and the profound questions about existence that drive her creative explorations.
The highly anticipated exhibition “Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now” is now open at M+ and marks the ambitious art museum’s first special exhibition since its inaugural opening in 2021. Read on for more on what to expect at this unique exhibition.
Through six different themes – Infinity, Accumulation, Radical Connectivity, Biocosmic, Death, and Force of Life. Showcased at M+ is a wide range of Kusama’s work which spans over seven decades, from her earliest work during war time as a young aspiring artist to her most recent commissions in 2022 by M+, visitors can expect so see different mediums of expression including drawings, paintings, installations, sculptures, collages, interactive installations and rarely seen archival materials from the artist.
Kusama’s work the explores the ideas of feminism, minimalism, surrealism, pop art & abstract expressionism. Kusama has been very open about her mental health and found art as a form of expressing of her mental health issues and as therapy, there is no denying that you will feel moved by the energy and emotions of her works.
“An infinite constant repetition allows us to find our ever expanding hope” - Yayoi Kusama.
White Infinity Nets.
I am a huge fan of Kusama’s Infinity Nets paintings, I hope to one day own one of her pieces, at the 1945 to Now Exhibition , there are several Infinity Net paintings to appreciate and see up close, from a distance the paintings are delicate and read as almost monochromatic, but up close they reveal intricate facades: small arched semi-circles of white paint covering the base of the canvas to create an almost three dimensional illusion to the works. On each painting the underlay is normally a solid colour, a wash of black or grey for this particular collection forms the background for the intricate network of paint strokes that combine to form a net.
The paintings are characterised by a uniform visual aesthetic that evokes a detailed lattice. The nets appear to extend beyond the picture planes, suggesting the potential to expand indefinitely.
The exhibition will also present three brand-new works commissioned my M+ to audiences for the first time: Pumpkin (2022) two large sculptures available for public viewing in the Main Hall, Death of Nerves (2022), a large-scale installation in the museums atrium spanning over two levels and lastly Dots Obsession—Aspiring to Heaven's Love (2022) located on B2, which is sure to be a popular share on Instagram, It is the latest signature Infinity Mirror Room which was conceived and exhibited created by Kusama in 1965, some 57 years ago.
Dots Obsession—Aspiring to Heaven's Love (2022) .
But behind the fun and playful signatures of her works is an artist who has gone through wartime trauma, sexual trauma as well as social and cultural barriers all of which have influenced her art over seven decades. Upon returning to Japan after establishing her self as a renowned contemporary female artist, Kusama lived in a psychiatric hospital for four decades to cope with her hallucinations and panic attacks. Through it all, art has been her medium of self-expression and consolation.
”I create art for the healing of all mankind”. Yayoi Kusama
MR GUMBATRON VLOGS
For a silent preview of Yayoi Kusama’s 1945 to Now Exhibition, you can enjoy below. Don’t forget to subscribe for more.
Photograph: Courtesy Ota Fine Arts, Victoria Miro, and David Zwirner ©Yayoi Kusama
More Info:
Location: West Gallery, The Studio, Main Hall, Lightwell, Found Space
Ticket Information
Standard: HKD 240
Concessions*: HKD 150
*Concession tickets are available to full-time students, children ages 7 to 11, senior citizens ages 60 or above, persons with disabilities and companion, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients
Purchase tickets here.
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dress well, drink well. live well
L.M
