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Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne

The wait is finally over. The NGV has unveiled Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective, offering an extraordinary glimpse into the life and career of one of the world’s most influential artists. At 95 years old, Yayoi Kusama’s remarkable artistic journey spans eight decades, and this exhibition celebrates her profound contributions to the art world.

Six years in the making, this retrospective features over 200 works, including many never-before-seen pieces in Australia. It also includes the global debut of Kusama’s latest immersive Infinity Mirrored Room. Curated by the NGV, the exhibition takes over the entire ground floor of NGV International and stands as one of the most comprehensive retrospectives of Kusama’s work ever presented globally.

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Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: Yayoi Kusama, credit: Kiddiehood

About Yayoi Kusama

Born in Matsumoto, Japan, in 1929, Kusama is celebrated for her unique use of pattern, colour, and symbolism. Her works are deeply personal yet universal, offering viewers an immersive experience that transcends cultural boundaries. Kusama’s contributions to movements such as minimalism, pop art, and feminist art have left an indelible mark on contemporary art.

Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: Yayoi Kusama, credit: Kiddiehood

The Exhibition Journey

Part 1

The retrospective begins with Kusama’s early works, including sketches, drawings, and paintings from the late 1930s to the 1950s, created in her hometown of Matsumoto. It then transitions to her time in the United States, where she became a key figure in New York’s avant-garde scene during the 1960s. Visitors will see archival materials, including studio photographs, personal letters, and performance documentation, offering insights into Kusama’s socially engaged and politically charged art of the era.

Highlights include her Infinity Net paintings and Accumulation sculptures from the 1950s and 60s, as well as her experimental fashion pieces from the 1970s.

Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: Yayoi Kusama, credit: Kiddiehood

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Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: Yayoi Kusama, credit: Kiddiehood

Part 2

The second half of the exhibition showcases Kusama’s iconic pumpkin-inspired works, large-scale paintings, and sculptures created over the past four decades. Visitors can explore her celebrated immersive room installations, which use mirrors, lights, and patterns to create portals of infinite reflection.

Immersive Highlights

Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens, credit: Kiddiehood
Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens, credit: Kiddiehood

The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens: A mesmerising piece where a mirrored box creates the illusion of glowing pumpkin lanterns extending infinitely.

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Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: Dots Obsession, credit: Kiddiehood

Dots Obsession: A walk-through room filled with inflated forms and Kusama’s signature polka dots, symbolising individuality and the cosmos’ interconnectedness. The mirrored walls amplify the illusion of endlessness.

Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: Yayoi Kusama, credit: Kiddiehood

The Hope of the Polka Dots Buried in Infinity Will Eternally Cover the Universe: A stunning 20-foot-tall sculptures that resembles tentacles covered in yellow and black polka dots.

Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: Infinity Mirrored Room, credit: Kiddiehood

Toward the end of the exhibition, visitors can experience Kusama’s infinity rooms. These installations accommodate small groups of up to eight people for 30 seconds. The first room, Infinity Mirrored Room, uses mirrors and lights to create the effect of endless space.

Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: Love is Calling, credit: Kiddiehood

In the next infinity room Love is Calling, features Inflatable neon polka-dotted tentacles protrude from the ceiling and floor, multiplying endlessly in mirrored walls.

Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light, credit: Kiddiehood

The final infinity room features the premiere of My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light (2024). Kusama uses mirrors and lights to transform the space into an infinite, dreamlike environment. The effect is truely magical.

Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: Flower Obsession, credit: Kiddiehood
Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne
Image: Flower Obsession, credit: Kiddiehood

The final artwork in the exhibition is Flower Obsession, originally commissioned for the 2017 NGV Triennial. This interactive piece invites visitors to contribute by adding red flower stickers to the walls, furniture, and objects in the space. Over time, the flowers will gradually cover every surface, transforming the room into a vibrant, immersive display. It will be fascinating to see the completed transformation by April 2025.

Tips for Visitors

Due to the popularity of Kusama’s work, it’s best to arrive early to avoid long queues for the infinity rooms. These installations are a highlight of the exhibition, and worth the wait.

This retrospective is not just an exhibition—it’s an experience that celebrates the life, vision, and artistic genius of Yayoi Kusama. Don’t miss the chance to witness this groundbreaking showcase at the NGV.

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Australia’s Largest Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Opens in Melbourne

Frequently Asked Questions for Yayoi Kusama Exhibition at NGV

1. What is the Yayoi Kusama exhibition?
The Yayoi Kusama exhibition is a comprehensive retrospective of the artist’s eight-decade career, featuring over 200 works, including her iconic infinity rooms, sculptures, paintings, and interactive installations.

2. Where is the Kusama exhibition being held?
The exhibition is located at the NGV International on St Kilda Road, Melbourne, spanning the entire ground floor.

3. How long will the Kusama exhibition be open?
The exhibition runs from 15 December 2024 to 21 April 2025.

4. Are tickets required for the Kusama Exhibition, and how can I purchase them?
Yes, tickets are required. You can purchase them online through the NGV website or at the venue. Family passes are available.

5. Is the Kusama exhibition family-friendly?
The exhibition offers experiences suitable for all ages, with vibrant colours and immersive installations that can appeal to children. However, the large-scale sculptures are not interactive and should not be touched, so younger children may need supervision. Some themes in the early part of the exhibition are more suited to adults, so families may want to navigate those sections accordingly.

6. How long does it take to view the exhibition?
Visitors typically spend 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the exhibition, but you can take as much or as little time as you like.

7. Are strollers and prams allowed?
Yes, strollers and prams are welcome, but some areas may have limited access due to space constraints. NGV also offers stroller parking if needed.

8. What are the infinity rooms, and can families experience them together?
The infinity rooms are immersive installations featuring mirrors and lights that create the illusion of infinite space. Small groups (up to 8 people) are allowed in at a time, so families can experience these rooms together.

9. Are there sensory-friendly options for families?
Yes, NGV provides sensory-friendly resources and quieter times for families with sensory sensitivities. 

10. Is there food available for families at the NGV?
The NGV has cafés and dining areas offering family-friendly menus. You can also bring snacks for young children, but these must be consumed outside exhibition spaces.

11. Are there accessibility options for families?
The NGV is fully accessible, with elevators, ramps, and family-friendly restrooms. 

12. Is there free art to see at the Kusama exhibition at NGV?
Yes, there is free art to see at the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the NGV, including:

  • Kusama for Kids: A free exhibition designed for children and families, featuring an interactive installation called The Obliteration Room, where visitors can add colourful stickers to a white room, transforming it into a vibrant collaborative artwork. For more information
  • Dancing Pumpkin: A five-metre-tall bronze sculpture covered in yellow and black polka dots, located in a public space for all to enjoy.
  • Narcissus Garden: An iconic installation made up of mirrored spheres, offering a striking visual experience and reflection on self and surroundings.

13. How much does it cost to see Kusama exhibition at NGV?
Adult $38.00
Child (5–15 years) $18.00
Concession $35.00
Family (2 adults + 3 children) $94.00

We try our best to provide accurate information on kid-friendly events around Victoria but do recommend parents check details directly to confirm dates, times, prices as some details may be subject to change.

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