Yayoi Kusama was born to a well-established conservative family that owned a seed nursery business. She spent her childhood surrounded by her family’s seed harvesting grounds. As a little girl, she often went out into the flower fields with her sketchbooks, developing her passion for drawing. For the artist, plants have been both beloved subjects and frightening figures, instilling fear through hallucinations and reflecting her state of mind.

This exhibition showcases Kusama’s botanical-themed works alongside a variety of her self-portraits, spanning from her early artistic period to the present. Introducing how the artist has overcome obsession through her self-imagery and its alternative representations, the exhibition offers an opportunity to experience the world of Kusama’s creation.

L: Lingering Dream 1949
R: Self-portrait 1972

© YAYOI KUSAMA