This summer, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne invites you to lose yourself in the extraordinary universe of Yayoi Kusama.
The world-premiere blockbuster exhibition celebrates the iconic Japanese artist with the largest collection of her immersive artworks ever staged in a single location. Bringing together ten of Kusama’s boundary-pushing creations, including her latest infinity mirror room, this event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the boundless imagination of one of the world’s most celebrated artists.
A New Frontier in Infinity
The crown jewel of the exhibition is the global debut of Infinity Mirrored Room–My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light, 2024. Opening exclusively in Melbourne on 15 December 2024, this masterpiece invites visitors into an infinite celestial realm. The work leverages Kusama’s signature use of mirrors to create the illusion of endlessness, immersing audiences in a glittering universe of light and depth. From her first mirrored installations in the 1960s to this latest evolution, Kusama continues to redefine how we perceive space and infinity.
The Polka Dot Cosmos and Other Iconic Installations
Adding to the spectacle is The Hope of the Polka Dots Buried in Infinity Will Eternally Cover the Universe (2019), an Australian premiere. This breathtaking installation fills the space with six-metre-tall yellow-and-black polka-dotted tendrils that seem to surge and sway overhead, enveloping visitors within Kusama’s vision of infinity as encountered through nature. For Kusama, polka dots symbolise both individuality and connectedness, merging into one expansive cosmos.
The much-loved Dots Obsession (1996/2024), another highlight, creates a mirrored room populated by inflatables covered in Kusama’s signature dots. The installation turns the simple dot into a contemplative metaphor, inviting visitors to ponder their place in the boundlessness of the universe.
Other crowd favourites include Kusama’s celestial-themed mirror rooms such as Chandelier of Grief (2016) and Love is Calling (2013). The former mesmerises with a rotating chandelier inside a mirrored hexagonal space, while the latter surrounds viewers with glowing, multi-coloured tentacle forms. Fans of Kusama’s pumpkin-themed works won’t want to miss The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens (2017), which reveals an infinite glowing pumpkin landscape through a small, unassuming peephole.
Interactive Artworks that Invite Participation
Kusama’s talent doesn’t just stop at creating mesmerising spaces—it extends to inviting visitors to become part of the art. Flower Obsession (2017) offers a visceral participatory experience, where visitors are encouraged to cover the surfaces of a domestic interior in red flowers. Over time, the space will ‘obliterate’ into a vibrant floral transformation, symbolising Kusama’s fascination with accumulation and expansion.
A second participatory favourite, The Obliteration Room (2002–present), takes over the NGV’s children’s gallery as part of the Kusama for Kids program. This wildly popular installation starts as an entirely white apartment and evolves as visitors apply brightly coloured stickers, obliterating the starkness with thousands of vibrant dots. It’s an experience that promises hours of joy for both the young and the young at heart.
Surreal Landscapes and Larger-than-Life Installations
The exhibition doesn’t end there. Prepare to be awed by Invisible Life (2000/24), a psychedelic corridor of convex mirrors and kaleidoscopic colours, and With All My Love for the Tulips, I Pray Forever (2013), where monumental tulips tower over visitors within an immersive polka-dotted environment.
Kusama’s Vision of Infinity and Nature
A recurring theme throughout the exhibition is Kusama’s deep connection to infinity and her reverence for nature. These are not just spaces designed for Instagram-worthy photos—we’re invited to confront the mysteries of existence, the cycles of life, and our own smallness within a vast, infinite universe. The works encourage us both to lose ourselves and rediscover where we belong.
An Unmissable Experience
The NGV has brought Kusama’s vision to Melbourne on an unprecedented scale, making it the definitive Kusama experience. Whether you’re an admirer of contemporary art, a fan of her signature polka dots, or simply looking to immerse yourself in something extraordinary, this exhibition is a must-see.
Infinity Mirrored Room–My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light and Kusama’s other awe-inspiring works remind audiences of the boundless possibilities of art to transcend, inspire, and connect. Don’t miss your chance to step into Kusama’s infinite world—tickets are now available for this monumental exhibition at the NGV.
Yayoi Kusama will be on display from 15 December 2024 to 21 April 2025 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Entry fees apply. Tickets and information are available via the NGV website: NGV.MELBOURNE