My birthday present this year was to go see the “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors” at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. For years I have seen art critics and Instagrammers raving about these magical mirrored installations. I’m not going to lie, part of the appeal was being able to take some really amazing pictures. But the second the doors closed, and the lights came on in the first room I got it.
The artist behind the sensational exhibit is Yayoi Kusama. “The Priestess of Polka Dots” is a petite 89-year-old Japanese woman who drew inspiration from her hallucinations, her childhood on a seed farm, and her experiences during the avant-garde and pop-art movements of the 1960s. Learn more here.
Before I go on, I need to explain that each room of the exhibit has a set time limit of twenty or thirty seconds. While it doesn’t sound like a lot of time, if you spent much more time in the rooms your brain would overload. With that said, I would love to spend an hour meditating in the first room, The Souls of Millions Light Years Away.
The room started off dark, then the lights came on. It’s an experience I have never felt before. It felt like I was floating in a field of stars, time ceased to exist, and that was only in thirty seconds. This was one of the most magical things, I have ever experienced. My first thought was, “Can I go again?” followed by, “Is this what astronauts feel like?”
We quickly got in line for the next room, where I saw a group of moms with babies, one of whom explained that this was their first room, and she wasn’t sure how her baby was going to react. He came out with a dazed little smile on his face; his little world had been totally rocked.
During the Infinity Mirrored Rooms Love Forever and All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins, I kept my phone in my purse and just enjoyed the experience. When I got into the Pumpkin Room, I burst into laughter. There’s just something I love about pumpkins (check my Instagram posts from the fall.)
“Dots Obsession- Love Transformed into Dots” combined two of my favorite things, pink and polka-dots.
I was given a sheet of dots to add to The Obliteration Room, the final room. I carefully thought about where I should put each sticker. I added one to the tree, purse, desk, side table, and the wall. I found it incredibly touching that everyone who comes to the exhibit becomes part of the art. As much as I didn’t want to leave, standing for an hour and a half is incredibly tough for anyone with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, which I have.
After exiting, my mom and I stopped in the stairwell and took a moment to process what we had just seen. My mom had never heard of Yayoi Kusama, and she went in knowing only what I had told her. Then we headed to Ponce City Market for lunch.
While Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors is no longer at the High Museum of Art, here are some other places in the United States where you can see Yayoi Kusama’s art.
Narcissus Garden will be located at the Atlanta Botanical Garden through the spring. More information here.
You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies is part of the Phoenix Art Museum’s permanent collection. More information here.
Repetitive Vision and Infinity Dots Mirrored Room are on permanent display at The Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh. More information here.
Light of Life can be found at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. More information here.
I am so thankful to the High Museum of Art and my parents for making this trip possible. Atlanta is such an amazing city, and I can’t wait to come back soon! Have you heard of Yayoi Kusama? Do you want to see more from our trip to Atlanta? Let me know in the comments below or leave me a comment on Instagram!
With Love from the East Coast,
Elaine
