Infinity Mirrors @ AGO
by holditnow
Dots Obsession- Love turned into Dots 2007 Yayoi Kusama
Well, we finally made it to Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrors at the AGO. Kusama is definitely having a moment at the moment. Her work seems to be custom made for our times, although she’s been exploring these ideas for decades. The rest of the world has finally caught up. The process of seeing Infinity Mirrors is almost a separate experience to actually viewing the work in Infinity Mirrors. Let me explain……
Life (Repetitive Vision) detail 1998
Kusama’s work is a playful exploration of materials, sexuality and your position in the universe. We are all solitary dots in an infinite cosmos of dots. As bleak as that outcome sounds, she still infuses the work with a sense of jubilation. The work also acts as a catalyst for the viewer, where are you in relation to the work and do you make yourself the focal point?
The experience of Infinity Mirrors started long before the exhibit opened. The interweb was awash with images and the hype was thunder on the horizon slowly growing louder. Securing tickets was part of the experience. The logistics of the exhibit had to limit availability, so the demand heightened. No one likes to read these words “You are currently 9000th in line.” There was a sense of joy being able to be a part of it. You were given a time and then all you had to do was wait. Kusama provided you with infinite space but had to limit your time and the result; time became the true star. You had 20 to 30 seconds in each room. Not a lot of time to drink in your place in the universe and that is why Infinity Mirrors works so well. The obligatory selfie helps you freeze time to help sustain that fleeting moment. Yayoi Kusama has her finger on the pulse of our lives.
Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity 2009
I bought postcards with Kusama’s work on them at the main floor gift shop to mail my friends, it’s definitely an experience. 🙂
I loved your discussion there of her work as “Yayoi Kusama has her finger on the pulse of our lives.” I didn’t look at it that way when I saw it because I didn’t consider the process of procuring tickets as part of the overall experience, but I think it’s something I will keep in mind now.
It was difficult to get tickets when it was in my area too and luckily I had a very understanding boss who understood and encouraged my interests so she didn’t mind that I took the morning to stand in line for a ticket and then call to say I’d take the day off when I was successful in getting one (I was the last person to get a ticket that day).
I enjoyed the exhibit and thought it was quirky and playful, which I loved. My favorite part was “The Obliteration Room” which I think began entirely white and patrons are given colored dots to place anywhere in the room. I love it when I can engage with an artwork, when I’m allowed to touch it. I also like that as the dots accumulate we sort of get a visual of how many people have seen the exhibit and how they have influenced it.
Your boss sounds amazing to let you take a day to go see an art exhibit! I was amazed by the response to this show. I guess it has been like this every place it has landed. Not bad for an 89 year old.