LAS VEGAS, NV.- Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is presenting two installations by renowned artist Yayoi Kusama. An immersive experience for visitors, Yayoi Kusama offers a unique wonderland of lights and reflections where guests are invited to experience each artwork from within. Both installations, Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity and Narcissus Garden, awaken a sense of wonder and showcase Kusamas exploration of infinite space.
Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity is a room of infinite, shimmering lights. Guests step into an enclosed room and are transported into a completely mirrored space, as an array of lights ignite a delicate mirage reflected and repeated on every surface over the span of just under a minute. The space represents Kusamas lifelong obsession with the dissolution of the self into the infinite and was created the year of her 80th birthday.
Narcissus Garden is a celebrated installation by Kusama comprised of 750 mirrored globes in the form of a lake that distorts images of reality reflected on the surface. This is a prime example of one Kusamas most famous works, which has been installed in unique settings all over the world since it was created more than 50 years ago.
Over the years weve found multiple opportunities to showcase the intricacies of Japanese culture through unique exhibitions to our guests, who visit us from around the world, said Tarissa Tiberti, Executive Director of Art & Culture. This is an incredible moment to highlight two groundbreaking installations by acclaimed artist Yayoi Kusama and continue the storytelling nature that art plays in connecting cultures.
Recognized today for her robust career, Kusama is one of the most successful and well-known living artists. Time Magazine named her one of the most influential people in the world in 2016.
Born in Matsumoto, Japan in 1929, Kusama is known internationally for her installation work, sculptures, and paintings. From the time she was a child, Kusama suffered from traumatic hallucinations of being consumed by threatening nets and dots. At the age of 10, she began to use these dots and nets as motifs for her paintings. In 1958, she moved to New York City where she created her first mirrored room and Narcissus Garden, both representing awareness of infinity and admiration for ones own reflection. Early in her career, Kusama struggled to achieve the same recognition that many of her male counterparts enjoyed and soon moved back to Japan where she sought psychiatric assistance in dealing with depression. Over the next 20 years, Kusama re-established herself in the art world. In 1993 she was the first Japanese woman to have a solo show at the 45th Venice Biennale, and in 2002 she exhibited over 280 works at the Matsumoto City Art Gallery, where she still exhibits today. Kusama partnered with Louis Vuitton in 2012, opened her own museum in 2017 and is the subject of a feature length documentary film about her life, Kusama - Infinity.
Yayoi Kusama will be on view through Sunday, April 28, 2019.