Born in Matsumoto, Japan in 1929, Yayoi Kusama is one of the world’s most important and recognised practitioners working today. Kusama’s personal expression was indelibly shaped by her childhood experiences, including hallucinations that overwhelmed her sense of self. She has explained these visions as part of an obsessional neurosis that has driven her to create art for nearly nine decades.

Today, Kusama is renowned globally for her singular and idiosyncratic use of pattern, colour and symbols to create immersive, thought-provoking and intensely personal works of art that transcend language and borders. She has made significant contributions to key art movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including minimalism, pop art and feminist art.

Consisting of 1,400 stainless steel spheres, each 30 cm in diameter, Narcissus Garden produces a visual landscape that infinitely reflects and envelops viewers as they explore the installation. The work references the Greek myth of Narcissus, who was so captivated by his own reflection in a body of water that it led to his drowning.

During the opening week of the Venice Biennale in 1966, Kusama placed a sign at the installation emblazoned with the words ‘YOUR NARCISSIUM [sic] FOR SALE’. She sold the mirror balls to passers-by for two US dollars each, before Biennale authorities told her to stop selling art “like hot dogs or ice cream cones”.

Through experiencing Narcissus Garden, Kusama gives audiences the power to see their own reflection and, in turn, be captivated. Narcissus Garden continues to live on – commissioned and re-installed in indoor and outdoor settings and configurations around the world – and connects the past with the present, signifying the enduring impact of Yayoi Kusama’s art.

Narcissus Garden is a definitive work in Yayoi Kusama’s career and an important acquisition for the NGV Collection. Its unofficial inclusion in the 1966 Venice Biennale came early in Kusama’s career as she was defining her style and unique voice within a global art world. The enduring beauty and relevance of Narcissus Garden, reimagined for the NGV, is a testament to her steadfast artistic vision.

In the true sense of the word, Yayoi Kusama is an icon – a peerless global phenomenon, and a woman who has captured the zeitgeist of contemporary culture like no other. Local and visiting audiences will be captivated by this impactful artwork, and the NGV Collection will be enriched for generations to come thanks to the support of our community.

Donna McColm
Assistant Director, Curatorial and Audience Engagement

In December 2024, the National Gallery of Victoria celebrates the illustrious career of iconic contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama, with an exclusive world-premiere exhibition, spanning over eight decades of practice.

Presented across the entire ground floor of NGV International, this is the most comprehensive exhibition of Kusama’s work ever staged in Australia. The exhibition features more than 180 works spanning painting, sculpture, collage, fashion and installation, with many drawn from the artist’s personal collection. Significant loans also come from museums and private collections throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including important early works that rarely travel.

Garnering worldwide recognition for her unparalleled ability to create astonishing immersive experiences, there are few artists working today with the global presence of Yayoi Kusama. The NGV is delighted to present this landmark exhibition for the enjoyment of visitors to Melbourne over summer 2024-25.

View the exhibition