"One day I was looking at the red flower patterns of the tablecloth on a table, and when I looked up I saw the same pattern covering the ceiling, the windows and the walls, and finally all over the room, my body and the universe. I felt as if I had begun to self-obliterate, to revolve in the infinity of endless time and the absoluteness of space, and be reduced to nothingness. As I realized it was actually happening and not just in my imagination, I was frightened. I knew I had to run away lest I should be deprived of my life by the spell of the red flowers."
Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929) is a renowned Japanese contemporary artist celebrated for her groundbreaking work in sculpture, installation, painting, and performance. Born in Matsumoto, Japan, she trained in traditional nihonga painting before moving to New York City in 1958, where she became a key figure in the avant-garde scene of the 1960s. Kusama’s art explores themes of infinity, self-obliteration, and the cosmos, often using her signature polka dots and mirrored environments to create immersive experiences. Her iconic Infinity Mirror Rooms and large-scale installations have captivated audiences worldwide, blending conceptual art with elements of feminism, surrealism, and pop art.
The Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo, dedicated entirely to her oeuvre, offers an intimate exploration of her artistic evolution, featuring iconic installations and paintings. In the United States, the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C., holds notable works, including two Infinity Mirror Rooms and sculptures like Pumpkin (2016). The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Whitney Museum of American Art feature significant pieces such as Fireflies on Water (2002). Internationally, Kusama’s art is represented at the Tate Modern in London, Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. Her hometown’s Matsumoto City Museum of Art also honors her legacy with exhibitions and installations like Visionary Flowers.