145 to now’ makes its debut at the M+ museum in hong kong

‘Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now’ opens to the public

Hong Kong M+ Museum celebrates the first year with its first special exhibition titled “Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now”. It is the most extensive retrospective of Kusama in Asia outside of Japan, underscoring its emergence as a global cultural icon of the 21st century by pursuing its uncompromisingly forward-thinking vision.

Expressing his gratitude, the artist shares: ‘It is with great pleasure that I present this exhibition as we commemorate the first anniversary of M+. My constant and sincere prayer is that the peoples of this world will fight their way through and beyond the quagmire of war and terror, hatred and grief. I seek to benefit society with the cornerstone which is my wholehearted pursuit of truth in art.’

The show will be presented between November 12, 2022 and May 14, 2023.

‘Self-Erasure’, 1966-1974 | @ Yayoi Kusama, photo by M+

explore the avant-garde aesthetics of the artist + his philosophies

Over the past seven decades, the artist has honed a singular personal aesthetic and fundamental philosophy of life, captivating millions by offering glimpses of limitless space and reflections on cycles of natural regeneration. The exhibition therefore seeks to chronicle his extraordinary life and work, foregrounding his desire for interconnectedness and the deep questions about existence that drive his creative explorations.

On this occasion, M+ presented more than 200 of his works, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations and archival documents from major museums and private collections in Asia, Europe and the United States. -Unis, from the M+ collection, as well as from the artist’s own. ‘[The retrospective] examines Kusama’s career from the earliest drawings she made as a teenager during World War II to her latest immersive works of art. Organized chronologically and thematically, the retrospective guides visitors through Kusama’s creative career divided into major themes: Infinity, Accumulation, Radical Connectivity, Biocosmic, Death and Life Force.,’ Write the museum.

artist Yayoi Kusama | image courtesy of M+

In addition to examining his early creations, ‘Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now‘ presents three unpublished works by the artist. The first one, ‘death of nerves (2022)’, is a large-scale colorful installation that extends his famous ‘Infinity Nets’ paintings in 3D space. Her second project, “Dots Obsession—Aspiring to Heaven’s Love (2022)”, combines Kusama’s signature polka dots and mirrored patterns in an immersive, kaleidoscopic realm. Finally, “Pumpkin (2022)” is available to the public in the museum’s main hall, along with two large sculptures.

‘Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now’ is co-hosted by M+ Deputy Director Doryun Chong and independent curator Mika Yoshitakewith the support of the main sponsor HSBC; main sponsor Hong Kong Telecom; Louis Vuitton, Sino groupand The Macallan as supporting sponsors; and Cathay Pacific Airways as an airline partner of the exhibition.