‘Our earth is only one polka dot among a million stars in the cosmos.’ Yayoi Kusama, 1968

I had been so looking forward to this exhibit of Yayoi Kusama and I booked the tickets way in advance last year.

“Yayoi Kusama is one of the world’s most celebrated living artists. Her polka-dotted pumpkin and flower sculptures are recognised globally, and her infinity mirror rooms are pivotal to the twenty-first century’s turn towards art as an immersive experience.” – National Gallery of Victoria

Step into Kusama’s mesmerizing Polka Dot world. Upon entering the National Gallery of Victoria, we are greeted by an awe-inspiring sight—a towering 5-meter-tall bronze pumpkin sculpture, weighing over nine tons.

The exhibition spans the entire Ground Floor of NGV International and is divided into two sections.

Upon entering the gallery, Part 1 is located on the right side, which is smaller compared to the second. As you proceed down the corridor, you’ll notice banners overhead, showcasing portraits of Yayoi Kusama at different stages of her life. Here the tickets will be scanned.

One part in front of these screens which is in a hidden corner with some silver balls, like those on display at the Waterwall entrance.

Across the right-hand side of the room are mannequins wearing clothing in front of a mirror backdrop.

The entrance to Part 2 is through the Gallery Restaurant.

Here your ticket will be checked again. A corridor leads you into the next gallery space. The walls and ceiling are different colours and covered in rounded convex mirrors.

There is a yellow-and-black polka-dotted sculpture at the end of the corridor.

This is an immersive room with floor, walls and ceiling are yellow and covered in black dots. It is called The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens. (We skipped this room because the queue was so long.)

In this next room are dotted sculptures.

Major highlight of the exhibition are impressive assembly of Kusama’s iconic immersive installations,

This first immersive room is entitled Dots Obsession . Throughout this room there are large red inflatables and has the floor, walls and ceiling, covered in white dots.

This immersive room with the floor, walls and ceiling covered in black with yellow dots which for me looked like tentacles. It is called The Hope of Polka Dots Buried in Infinity Will Eternally Cover the Universe.

This is a hallway covered in white with red, pink, green, blue and yellow dots. Along the hallway are three sculptures, each covered in the same pattern. This one is called With All My Love for the Tulips I Pray Forever.

“If there is a chance that in 100 years’ time, there will be just one person who will look at my work and be touched by it, then I must continue to create art for that person.’”- Yayoi Kusama, 1989

The next Immersive Room, Love is Calling, features vibrant, glowing shapes that emerge from both the floor and ceiling. These shapes, adorned with black dots, shift gently through a spectrum of colours.

Yayoi Kusama unveils a new infinity room for Melbourne called My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light. This is a darkened space covered with mirrors, with domes that glow from within, giving out colourful lights. What a joyful sight!

And here is a dedication from the artist to the people of Melbourne:

And then it was time to exit.

The Obliteration Room invites guests to stick a flower sticker (being handed out) onto the walls, furniture, and floors.

Of course passing through the shop.

I hope you enjoyed this walk through the Polka Dot walls of a famous exhibit that is currently running here in Melbourne until the 18th of April. I am linking it to Jo’s Monday Walk, Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge and for Becky’s GeometricJanuary (which I made sure that a few photos are squares this time haha).