yayoi kusama's retrospective spreads polka dots at gropius bau in berlin

the gropius bau in berlin stages the first comprehensive retrospective of yayoi kusama‘s oeuvre from the last eight decades. spanning almost 3000 sqm, the exhibition offers an overview of the creative periods of her work, while numerous current activities and a completely new infinity mirror room with colored floating light balls are also on view. sixteen pink dotted tentacles, which are rising eleven meters high, welcome visitors to explore her mesmerizing creations.all images © designboom unless stated otherwise

the exhibition dubbed ‘a bouquet of love I saw in the universe’ revives eight of yayoi kusama’s early exhibition projects in germany and europe in the 1960s and solo demonstrations in the USA and asia from the 1950s to 1980s. early paintings, sculptures, installations, videos, large-scale images, and mirrored box rooms are spread over two floors. within this collection, visitors have the opportunity to explore the pioneering nature of her presentational forms, including archival material, and films she made over the last eighty years. 

yayoi kusama is one of the world’s most important contemporary artists, with dotted patterns — polka dots — as her trademark. largely influenced by her anxiety and vivid hallucinatory episodes, which appeared in the form of spots, nets, and flashes of light, many of her works became the way to express and demonstrate her mental problems. a dense and hypnotic mirror-clad room formed with hundreds of spotlights that change color attract people to get lost within.

kusama’s art is characterized by the recurring motif of polka dots, infinity net pattern, or profusion that is depicted throughout her oeuvre; complete rooms, ceilings, walls, and floors are covered in round forms in black, yellow, or red, immersing viewers within the artist’s boundless visual universe. a yellow dotted box in gropius building invites people to get wrapped in the dizzying pumpkin room.

image courtesy of luca girardini

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exhibition info:

name: a bouquet of love I saw in the universe

artist: yayoi kusama

location: martin gropius bau, berlin

dates: till 15 august 2021