Allure of dots

Yayoi Kusama, "With All My Love for the Tulips, I Pray Forever" / Courtesy of Seoul Arts Center

Yayoi Kusama's exhibition held through June 15

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Colorful dots cover the entrance to Hangaram Art Museum in Seoul Arts Center, southern Seoul, for "A Dream I Dreamed," a retrospective of Yayoi Kusama. The 85-year-old artist is known for her trademark polka dots and the dotty decoration is a tribute to her.

Kusama's "A Dream I Dreamed," is a traveling exhibition organized by Daegu Art Museum touring Daegu, Shanghai, Macau, Taipei and New Delhi through 2015. Seoul is the third destination of the Kusama retrospective featuring over 120 works including her paintings, sculptures, videos and installations.

The Japanese artist suffered hallucinations and obsessive thoughts since childhood. Her hallucinations included endless polka dots on her body and Kusama sublimated her psychical disorder to the state of fine art. She still commutes to her studio from a psychiatric hospital, but such obsession could not stop her pursuing her world of art

Three of her famous "Pumpkin" sculptures filled with polka dots are also on display. First introduced at Japan's art island Naoshima in 1994, Kusama produced a variety of "Pumpkin," fascinated by the simpleness of the squash. At this exhibit, three "Pumpkin" in different sizes are displayed in a room of yellow and black polka dots, as if extended from the sculptures.

The mirror is another favorite object for Kusama to create illusions in daily life. "Infinity Mirrored Room" is a mirrored-room installation that multiplies delusions using colored lights, water and mirrors. Only a limited number of viewers are allowed into the room at a time, making the experience more palpable and awe-inspiring.

"Narcissus Garden," which is composed of some 3,000 mirror balls, are installed outside the gallery and moved by the wind, creating numerous reflections of the viewer and the scenery.

"With All My Love for the Tulips, I Pray Forever" is a room full of colorful polka dots and a gigantic tulip flowerpot sculpture, all covered by dots. This 2013 work is relatively brighter and more peaceful compared to her earlier works.

Kusama also invites visitors to engage with art. "The Obliteration Room" is a plain white room with white furniture to begin with and each visitor will be given a sheet of polka dot stickers to put on the room. At the end of the exhibit, the room will look much different, but the same in another perspective.

The exhibit features Kusama's paintings as well as her famous dotted installations. These silkscreen or acrylic paintings have continuing patterns and wavy lines, if not dots and represent how the artist turns her mental disorder to works of art.

The exhibit runs through June 15. Admission is 15,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for teens and 8,000 won for children. Docent programs are available at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. For more information, visit www.sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1300.