Nothing quite compares to the fanfare that erupts whenever a new Yayoi Kusama exhibition comes to town. After sneaking a peek at the Japanese icon's latest takeover of the New York Botanical Garden, we can say that the excitement is definitely warranted. No wonder tickets have been selling out weeks in advance!
KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature presents a stunning juxtaposition of modern art against the natural world, exploring the artist's lifelong fascination with nature and its forms. A series of bold works, colorful sculptures, and interactive installations are scattered throughout the garden's idyllic 250-acre property, sending visitors on a surrealist scavenger hunt through wonderland.
Traipse through the polka-dotted trees, experience a moment of water-flowing zen at Narcissus Garden, and leave your mark in the artist's first-ever obliteration greenhouse, Flower Obsession, a gorgeous garden room setup where guests can apply floral stickers to the interior décor.
Of course, you can't miss out on the magic going on inside the NYBG's Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where lush tropical trees and wildflowers set the scene for floating floral sculptures and one seriously blinged-out rendition of Kusama's signature pumpkin. Outside you can find a deconstructed version, scaled to monumental proportions and resembling an alien life form from another world.
Since we know you're wondering, yes, there is - sort of - an infinity room ripe for the selfie-ing. The brand new piece, Infinity Mirrored Room—Illusion Inside the Heart, embodies a mirrored cube reflecting the infinite and ever-changing landscape of the gardens. While, for now, you'll have to stick to snapping a pic from the exterior, timed-entry access inside the cube should begin later in the summer.
With even more on display in the galleries and library, there's practically a whole day's worth of discovering to do. And, let's be real, lots of opportunities for the perfect Insta.
KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature opens April 10th and will run through October 31st. Snag your tickets HERE!
[Photos courtesy NYBG]