Yayoi Kusama Infinity Room
Sharing the National Collection Portal
Key information
Thank you for hosting this work of art from the national collection through the Sharing the National Collection initiative.
Please find all assets and information relating to the loan in this portal.
Exhibition Overview
‘The world I see is endless space.’
Title: Yayoi Kusama: THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS
Artist: Yayoi Kusama
Artworks include: THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS, 2017
‘The world I see is endless space.’ Yayoi Kusama, 2015
Described as ‘the world’s most popular artist’, Yayoi Kusama (Japan, b. 1929) is best known for her immersive polka-dot and mirror installations. Over the course of her 60-year career, she has engaged with an expansive idea of space and the human body. She uses several recurring motifs – dots, eyes, nets and pumpkins – to investigate repetition and to create sensory experiences that hint at the infinite.
THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS, 2017, is an installation comprising a vibrant yellow room overrun with black polka dots of various sizes. At its centre is a mirrored box, inside which are several dozen illuminated pumpkin sculptures that can be seen through windows. The pumpkins, endlessly reflected in the room’s internal mirrors, are also vivid yellow and adorned with dots. The dazzling combination of dots, mirrors and pumpkins creates an optical illusion – a sensation of infinite space and colour.
Yayoi Kusama: THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS was purchased with the support of Andrew and Hiroko Gwinnett.
Approvals and Acknowledgements
Please acknowledge the National Gallery and Sharing the National Collection in all communications and marketing collateral associated with the long term loan, and send back for National Gallery approval.
Please allow a minimum of five business days for approvals.
The National Gallery must approve the following before publication:
- Display signage
- Marketing collateral (print and electronic) i.e. exhibition posters, flyers, invitations
- Media releases
- Content pieces i.e. video
The Partner must display the following acknowledgments in relation to the display and promotion of the loan:
- This work of art is on long term loan from the National Gallery of Australia with support from the Australian Government as part of Sharing the National Collection. #ArtAcrossAustralia
- Relevant logos as below
- Correct caption/acknowledgement for the work of art, as provided.
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Assets
Please find below information on how to use the assets provided for print and electronic collateral.
Hero images
High resolution reproductions of loaned work are downloadable below.
Venues are required to read the copyright information below and agree to the terms of use agreement in order to proceed.
Copyright information
- Hero Images have received copyright clearance.
- The images are for the use of venues only and may not be distributed to any other party except media ensuring that images are used exclusively by media, and only for purposes of publicity of the loan, falling under the special exemptions of Fair dealing for purpose of reporting news or Fair dealing for purpose of criticism or review, as set out in the Copyright Act 1968;
Use of these images outside these outlined exceptions, without the Gallery's or the rightsholder's authorisation, is an infringement which may be subject to legal redress by the rightsholder.
Moral rights
- All images must be correctly acknowledged with the captions supplied herein.
- All images must be reproduced with due consideration for the artist's honour and reputation, respecting their moral rights.
- Any potential infringement of the artist’s moral rights (cropping, overprinting etc.) must be approved by both the National Gallery and the rightsholder.
Infringement of an artist's moral rights may be subject to legal redress by either the artist or the estate of that artist.
Described as ‘the world’s most popular artist’, Yayoi Kusama (Japan, b. 1929) is best known for her immersive polka-dot and mirror installations. Over the course of her 60-year career, she has engaged with an expansive idea of space and the human body. She uses several recurring motifs – dots, eyes, nets and pumpkins – to investigate repetition and to create sensory experiences that hint at the infinite.
THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS, 2017, is an installation comprising a vibrant yellow room overrun with black polka dots of various sizes. At its centre is a mirrored box, inside which are several dozen illuminated pumpkin sculptures that can be seen through windows. The pumpkins, endlessly reflected in the room’s internal mirrors, are also vivid yellow and adorned with dots. The dazzling combination of dots, mirrors and pumpkins creates an optical illusion – a sensation of infinite space and colour.
This work of art is on long term loan from the National Gallery of Australia with support from the Australian Government as part of Sharing the National Collection. #ArtAcrossAustralia
MEDIA
Embargo
Please note the loan is under embargo until advised otherwise by the Minister's Office and the National Gallery.
Media releases, enquiries & interview requests
The National Gallery can support your media announcements. If you require support for media releases, spokesperson quotes, enquiries or talent for interview, please contact Senior Communications & Content Officer, Touring Jess Barnes and CC your project officer and media@nga.gov.au.
Learning Programs and Resources
Education resource
Here are some Kusama-inspired student activities. With more to come on education resources, workshops and programs available for kids of all ages.
Student activities
Speak your mind: Several journalists are fascinated with Kusama’s rise to fame, as she has become arguably the best-known living female artist. One theory is that the advent and ballooning popularity of Instagram may have elevated the popularity of her infinity rooms. Have a class discussion about the impact Instagram has had upon public engagement with art and art museums. Consider the pros and cons as well as case studies of artists and specific works of art that have been impacted.
Get to work: Design an installation that is optically interesting and immersive. Begin with drawings and consider making a diorama.
Think it through: Consider the scale of your installation to the viewer. Factor in the way the viewer enters the space and how the audience experiences the space. Are there any senses activated other than sight? To what extent could there be further iterations of your design?
Learn more:
- Yayoi Kusama – Obsessed with Polka Dots (video by Tate)
- Yayoi Kusama | Infinity Mirror Rooms (Hirshhorn Museum)
- Yayoi Kusama: the world's favourite artist? (article by The Guardian)
EDITORIAL
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by Reuben Keehan, Curator, Contemporary Asian Art at QAGOMA in Meanjin/Brisbane, and curator of their 2017–18 Yayoi Kusama focused survey.
Contacts
Sharing the National Collection Project Support
Michelle Andringa, Partner Support Officer, Permissions & Advice
P 02 6240 6473
E michelle.andringa@nga.gov.au
Elizabeth Smith, Partner Support Officer
P 02 6240 6787
E elizabeth.smith@nga.gov.au
Curatorial
Leanne Santoro, Curator, Sharing the National Collection
P 02 6240 6772
E leanne.santoro@nga.gov.au
Communications, Content & Marketing
Jessica Barnes, Senior Communications & Content Officer, Touring
P 02 6240 6431 M 0437 986 286
E jessica.barnes@nga.gov.au