yayoi kusama will finally have its own museum, a building designed by the architecture studio Kume Sekkei , which will house 270 works by the Japanese artist, who since 1977 she resides in a psychiatric hospital . It already has an opening date: October 1.
It consists of five white floors with huge windows to contemplate the landscape of the Shinjuku district in Tokyo. Though it was finished in 2014, the artist's schedule has postponed the opening until now. One of the floors will be dedicated to its mythical infinite rooms and another, the last one, will contain the archives and a study room.
Directed by Tensei Tatebata, the space will house two temporary exhibitions each year that, in principle, will always be dedicated to Kusama's work. The inaugural will be called Creation is a Solitary Pursuit, Love is What Brings You Closer to Art . Among the permanent collection will be the series Love Forever Y My Eternal Soul, which contains her latest unpublished works of hers, in addition to a new hall of mirrors.
Kusama's life is as fascinating as her work. Diagnosed since childhood for her psychological problems (phobias, hallucinations, depersonalization, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder...) and forced by her mother to persecute her father and his lovers (to later detail what was observed), she settled in the 50s in New York where it achieved iconic status. Upon her return to Japan, she asked to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital where she sleeps.
During the day she is dedicated to creating at a frenetic and constant pace, but with inordinate attention to detail. Polka dots, mirrors, balloons, sunflowers and pumpkins are her hallmark. Her exhibitions generate long queues and her works reach record prices every time they come up for auction.