Few artists capture the imagination as profoundly as Yayoi Kusama. Known for her mesmerizing dots, infinite mirrors, and audacious vision, Kusama continues to redefine contemporary art. This year, her work takes center stage at Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), offering a spellbinding experience that fuses art with emotion. Kusama’s exhibit promises to enthrall visitors with its vibrant energy and deeply personal narratives.
Stepping Into Kusama’s World
The NGV exhibition opens a portal to Kusama’s boundless creativity. Featuring nearly 200 pieces, this exhibit is the most extensive display of Kusama’s work ever hosted in Australia and stands among the most thorough retrospectives of her career worldwide. The NGV exhibition opens a portal to Kusama’s boundless creativity. As you step inside, you’re met with an explosion of color and light, trademarks of her unique aesthetic. Kusama’s famed polka dots transform the gallery into a playground of infinite possibilities. This isn’t merely an exhibit; it’s an immersive journey through her mind.
One of the most captivating features is the mirror rooms. These installations blur the line between reality and illusion, enveloping viewers in endless reflections. Walking into these rooms feels like stepping into another dimension, one where time and space lose their grip. Kusama’s intent is clear—to evoke a sense of infinity, mirroring her lifelong fascination with the cosmos and the interconnectedness of all things.
Art as Therapy and Expression
Yayoi Kusama’s art is deeply rooted in her personal struggles and triumphs. Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama experienced hallucinations from an early age. These visions often featured vivid patterns and dots, which later became central to her work. Art, for her, became a form of therapy and a means to channel her inner world.
The Melbourne exhibit reflects this profound connection between Kusama’s art and her psyche. For instance, her iconic pumpkin sculptures symbolize comfort and stability amidst chaos. These whimsical yet deeply evocative pieces invite viewers to find solace in their simplicity. The repetition of forms and patterns—a hallmark of her style—speaks to her obsessive drive to create order out of disorder.
Highlights of the NGV Exhibit
The NGV exhibit showcases an impressive array of Kusama’s works, spanning decades of her prolific career. Among the highlights is a new infinity room titled My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light. This dazzling installation envelops visitors in a kaleidoscope of light and reflections, creating a sense of infinite wonder. It’s a quintessential Kusama experience, leaving viewers both awestruck and introspective.
And, of course, the exhibit wouldn’t be complete without her pumpkin sculptures. Towering and playful, these works embody Kusama’s ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Their tactile surfaces and vivid hues invite viewers to connect with them on a visceral level. These large-scale works burst with energy, featuring bold colors, organic shapes, and intricate patterns. Each painting feels like a window into Kusama’s soul, brimming with raw emotion and unfiltered creativity.
You’ll also find paintings, sculptures, collage, fashion, film and installations, revealing the vast body of work Kusama has created.
Kusama’s Global Influence
Kusama’s impact on the art world is immeasurable. Her work transcends cultural boundaries, resonating with audiences across the globe. She’s often described as a pioneer of contemporary art, blending traditional Japanese motifs with avant-garde innovation.
The NGV’s decision to host this exhibit underscores Melbourne’s growing reputation as a global art hub. Kusama’s presence here not only elevates the city’s cultural landscape but also bridges the gap between Eastern and Western art traditions. Her work encourages viewers to reflect on themes of identity, belonging, and the universality of human experience.
Practical Tips for Visitors
For those planning to visit the NGV exhibit, preparation is key. With around 200 artworks on display, Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition spans most of the ground floor of NGV International, making it one of the most expansive showcases of her career. A number of Kusama’s artworks are also on display in public areas outside the ticketed exhibition zones. You can visit these pieces for free without needing a ticket.
The ticketed areas of the exhibit are divided into two sections. Part 1 can be accessed to your right after entering from the Waterwall entrance on St Kilda Road, past the NGV Garden Restaurant. Part 2’s entrance is located near the Gallery Kitchen cafe. For further assistance, including a Sensory Map, refer to page 11 of the NGV’s exhibition guide. The exhibition follows a designated path, making it easier to navigate.
You’re encouraged to take a break between the two sections. Relax in the Great Hall, NGV Garden, or Gallery Kitchen before continuing. To ensure a full experience, aim to enter Part 2 by 4 PM, leaving enough time before the gallery’s 5 PM closing time.
Don’t forget to bring your phone or camera. Kusama’s installations are incredibly photogenic, and the NGV encourages visitors to capture and share their experience. Kusama’s installations are incredibly photogenic, and the NGV encourages visitors to capture and share their experience. However, take a moment to put your device down and truly absorb the atmosphere.
The NGV’s layout also makes it easy to explore other exhibits alongside Kusama’s.
Why Kusama’s Work Matters
What sets Yayoi Kusama apart is her ability to connect with people on a deeply emotional level. Her art is as much about the viewer as it is about the creator. By immersing audiences in her world, she invites them to confront their own feelings of wonder, fear, and introspection.
The NGV exhibit is more than an art show; it’s a celebration of Kusama’s enduring spirit and boundless creativity. It’s a chance to witness the work of an artist who has spent her life challenging conventions and redefining what art can be.
Final Thoughts
Yayoi Kusama’s Melbourne exhibit is a must-see for anyone with an appreciation for art, innovation, or the sheer power of human expression. Her work transcends the visual, touching on the emotional and the spiritual. As you leave the NGV, you’ll carry a piece of Kusama’s world with you—a reminder of the infinite beauty that exists both within and around us.
The gallery’s upper floors introduce a series of new works from Kusama’s ongoing collection, Every Day I Pray for Love. These paintings may seem small at first, but they pack a surprising impact. They pack an enormous punch. Each canvas feels like a portal into Kusama’s world—filled with intricate lines, playful dots, and vibrant colors. The works are both personal and universal, echoing her obsession with the microscopic and the macroscopic. It’s easy to lose yourself staring into the repeating patterns and organic shapes that seem to swirl and pulse with life.
The Yayoi Kusama Melbourne Exhibition runs from 28 Dec 2024 – 21 April 2025 at the National Gallery of Victoria. Tickets cost 38 AUD for adults and 18 AUD for children (5 – 15 years). There are discounts for families, seniors, and NGV members.
Read more:
- Why Tokyo Gendai 2024 was Spectacular
- Yayoi Kusama’s Every Day I Pray for Love: Infinity, Regeneration, and the Human Psyche
- Tatsumi Shimura: A Master of Japanese Modern Beauty
- The Enigmatic World of Tetsuya Ishida
- Tatsuro Kiuchi: The Japanese Illustrator Who Loves Old Things
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