Yayoi Kusama Museum to Open Doors in October

The Yayoi Kusama Museum has announced that they will be opening their doors in Tokyo’s Shinjuku ward to the public on October 1, 2017, with the inaugural exhibition “Creation is a Solitary Pursuit, Love is What Brings You Closer to Art,” which will showcase Kusama’s latest painting series “My Eternal Soul” (2009– ).    

Designed by Kume Sekkei, the white-cuboid, five-story building with rounded corners was constructed three years ago. The architecture’s purpose was a point of speculation until the recent announcement. According to the museum’s new website, it will have a gift shop on the ground floor, exhibition spaces for Kusama’s works on the second and third floor, with the fourth floor dedicated to her installations. The final level will be a reading room with a collection of documents and materials regarding Kusama and her works. The museum also has an outdoor area. Programs will include two rotating exhibitions a year as well as lectures—all dedicated to the promotion and understanding of the prolific artist’s practice. Akira Tatehata, president of Tama Art University and director of the Museum of Modern Art, Saitama, will head up the museum’s directorship. The space will be open on weekends from Thursday to Sunday, and entrance is regulated by four 90-minute sessions a day.

Now nearly 90 years old, Yayoi Kusama is still very active in the art world; most recently, the artist presented a landmark survey exhibition “Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow” at the National Gallery Singapore. Kusama continues her enthusiasm in exploring her illusions derived from psychological conditions. Her concoctions take a variety of forms, but all deal with themes of gender, death and madness.

Jia Dong is an editorial intern art ArtAsiaPacific.

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