Yayoi Kusama Museum was founded by the avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, and is run by the Yayoi Kusama Foundation. It opened in 2017 with the aim of spreading and promoting Kusama’s art, exhibiting her works and related materials to contribute to the development of art as a whole. Ever since, many people who love the art of Yayoi Kusama from across the world have visited this precious place.
Probably not even need to explain, but Yayoi Kusama was born in Nagano Prefecture on March 22 1929. Many people may recall images with repeating patterns such as polka dots and monochrome nets. Even now, she continues to dedicate most of her days to creation with unwavering enthusiasm.
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Explore a Variety of Artworks at Every Exhibition
The museum showcases a wide range of Yayoi Kusama’s works in exhibitions held approximately twice a year. Because the collection is not permanent, encountering various works at each exhibition is also a way to enjoy this museum. By the time we visited, the exhibition “Visionary Colors” was being held. (For the exhibition schedule, please refer to the official site.)
This exhibition “Visionary Colors” showcases representative series from her early period to the present, tracing the evolution of her distinctive color expressions throughout her artistic career.
Starting from the vivid fluorescent pink at the 1st-floor
Stepping into the 1st-floor entrance, you will be amazed by the vivid fluorescent pink color right in front of you. At the 1F entrance, the exhibition introduces an aspect of Yayoi Kusama’s distinctive color expressions through her three-dimensional work and large-scale painting created from the late 1980s to the 1990s.
“Tower” consists of numerous cylindrically stacked boxes. Within these boxes, soft sculptures resembling phalli, filled with cotton and sewn into fabric, are arranged to appear as though they are wriggling. The entire work is covered with black polka dots. This type of soft sculpture, which embodies an obsession with sexuality, and the polka dot pattern derived from childhood hallucinations.
On the left side, “Soul Burning Flashes (A.B.Q)” is exhibited. If you look closer, the tails emerge from polka dots, creating a lively and crowded scene on the canvas that evokes the essence of life, reminiscent of sperm.
Experience Kusama's Hallucinatory World Through Experiential Installations
“I’m Here, but Nothing” exhibited on the 4F gallery is a room-sized installation work inspired by Kusama’s hallucinatory experiences. You will be entering the typical living room, complete with furniture and everyday items. However, the room is covered with countless polka dots. These dots extend endlessly, seemingly filling the mundane space of everyday life with an infinite world. It appears as though viewers are one of the polka dots, drifting in and out of the space. Kusama refers to this sensation, created through the repetition of a single motif, as ‘self-obliteration,’ and she continues to explore it through various mediums.
At the museum, you don’t just view her paintings and drawings; you immerse yourself in a unique experience that brings you closer to her thoughts and world.
Conclude the colorful journey at the Rooftop gallery
At the rooftop gallery, “Flowers That Bloom at Midnight”is exhibited. This is a series of large three-dimensional works that Kusama has consistently created since 2009. Born into a family-run wholesale seed nursery business, flowers and plants have always been companions since her childhood, while also serving as a source of hallucinatory fear. The unique presence of the motif in this work, combining both innocence and toxicity, seems to reflect the complex emotions of the artist. Various sizes of polka dots painted in vibrant colors on petals and leaves of colorful flowers evoke Kusama’s powerful vitality, as she dedicated herself to her creative activities in an attempt to overcome the fear of hallucinations.
The flowers, seemingly about to come to life at any moment, evoke a mysterious sensation as their impressions change with the weather and light. To preserve the full experience, we won’t show all the artwork here. Please visit the museum to continue your journey.
Important notification before enjoying Yayoi Kusama world
Before beginning your journey, please note that tickets must be purchased in advance through their official website and are not available at the door. Entry is timed and only valid for a specific time slot of 70 visitors per 90 minutes. As the number of visitors is controlled, you can enjoy the experience comfortably without overcrowding.
Details
- Further Details: View Website
- Purchase a ticket: View Website
- Address: 107 Bentencho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Access)
- Business Hours: 11:00 – 17:30, Thursdays to Sundays and National Holidays. Closes on Mondays to Wednesdays, The museum may be closed between exhibitions, for maintenance, and during the New Year holiday.
