The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam is set to open the largest exhibition in its history, dedicated to the renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. The museum spokeswoman confirmed that the retrospective completely fills the museum’s modern wing, known as the “bathtub”. Additionally, the exhibition extends outdoors, with trees across Museumplein wrapped in red-and-white polka dots and the museum facade covered in colorful stickers.
Ticket pre-sales surge following artist’s passing
Demand for advance tickets surged following Kusama’s recent death at age 97. Pre-sale tickets for the opening days and all weekends throughout September have already sold out. The landmark exhibition opens to the public on 11 September and will run through 17 January.
Final self-curated exhibition bridges early and late works
This retrospective marks the final exhibition Kusama personally helped finalize before her death. The display juxtaposes her latest creations against childhood artwork created when she was just ten years old. During her youth, Kusama experienced dots as hallucinations and veils, ultimately using polka dots throughout her career to symbolize infinity.
Signature pumpkins and mirror rooms take centerstage
Alongside her iconic dots, the exhibition features Kusama’s famous pumpkin sculptures and immersive mirror rooms in abundance. The top floor hosts a custom installation featuring mirrors and dotted, tentacle-like sculptures that Kusama designed specifically for this show. Born in Matsumoto in 1929, Kusama built an international career across the United States and Europe—including frequent stays in the Netherlands during the 1960s—before returning to Japan in 1973.
@ anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
