Hong Kong Exhibition | M+ | Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Present

The "#YayoiKusama: 1945 to Present" exhibition hosted by M+ will conclude on May 14th. I visited it during the Easter holiday. Adult tickets are HK$240 each, and discounted tickets are HK$150 each. Even without a ticket, you can take photos with the two giant pumpkins in the lobby. "Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Present" is Kusama's largest retrospective exhibition outside of Japan in Asia. Kusama has many self-portraits. I know Kusama's works often feature vibrant colors, but some of her early works were actually quite dark. The exhibition revolves around six themes: "Infinity," "Accumulation," "Total Connection," "Biocosm," "Death," and "The Power of Life." Kusama left Japan for the United States in 1957. Her experience of overlooking the Pacific Ocean from an airplane inspired her to create "Pacific Ocean." In *Self-Dissolution*, the mannequins, dining table, chairs, and tableware are all adorned with Yayoi Kusama's signature "Infinity Web" pattern. Waugh also noticed the floor was covered in dried pasta, suggesting Kusama intended to amplify the oppressive feeling of industrialized production. Kusama returned to Japan in 1973 and created *Accumulation of Hands*, where three sofas are covered with silver-painted work gloves. *Meteor*, in the collection of the Niigata City Museum of Art, is a 1992 work by Kusama. *Moment of Regeneration*, which Waugh had seen in other exhibitions. *Clouds*, an installation composed of nearly one hundred mirrored sculptures, is one of Waugh's favorite exhibits. Kusama used "shikishi" (colored paper) to depict mimosa and other plants, a style different from her other works. *Death of the Nerves*, a 1976 work. Kusama declared that she "creates art to heal all of humanity." The "My Eternal Soul" series features nearly 900 square paintings with vibrant colors. The wall-mounted soft sculpture "Between Heaven and Earth" consists of five panels, each inlaid with protruding fabric stuffing. The stripes on the stuffing create a dazzling visual effect, echoing the hallucinations seen by Yayoi Kusama. The final 11 works on display in the second-floor exhibition are from the "I Pray for Love Every Day" series, created from 2021 to the present. After viewing the more than 200 precious exhibits in the second-floor exhibition, take the elevator to B2 to admire two sets of works making their debut. First is the 2022 version of "The Death of the Nerves," which is much more colorful than the 1976 version. "The Obsession of Polka Dots—Yearning for Heavenly Love" is also making its debut; the mirror room is an absolute must-see. #WafflesAndShrimpCakes #WafflesAndShrimpCakesHongKongTour #WafflesAndShrimpCakesExhibition #LocalTourism #HongKongHighlights #HolidayHighlights