Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art Presents Yayoi Kusama Exhibit
On November 17, Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art debuted two installations by renowned artist Yayoi Kusama. An immersive experience for visitors, Yayoi Kusama offers a unique wonderland of lights and reflections where guests are invited to experience each artwork from within.
Both installations, Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity and Narcissus Garden, will awaken a sense of wonder and showcase Kusama’s exploration of infinite space.
Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity is a room of infinite, shimmering lights. Guests step into an enclosed room and are transported into a completely mirrored space, as an array of lights ignite a delicate mirage reflected and repeated on every surface over the span of just under a minute. The space represents Kusama’s lifelong obsession with the dissolution of the self into the infinite.
Narcissus Garden is a celebrated installation by Kusama comprised of mirrored globes in the form of a lake that distorts images of reality reflected on the surface. This is a prime example of one of Kusama’s most famous works, which has been installed in unique settings all over the world since it was created more than 50 years ago.
“Over the years we’ve found multiple opportunities to showcase the intricacies of Japanese culture through unique exhibitions to our guests who visit us from around the world,” said Tarissa Tiberti, Executive Director of Art & Culture. “This is an incredible moment to highlight two groundbreaking installations by acclaimed artist Yayoi Kusama and continue the storytelling nature that art plays in connecting cultures.”
Recognized today for her robust career, Kusama is one of the most successful and well-known living artists. Time Magazine named her one of the most influential people in the world in 2016.
Yayoi Kusama will be on view Saturday, Nov. 17 through Sunday, April 28, 2019. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for Nevada residents, seniors 65 and older, and students, teachers and military with valid ID. Children 12 and younger are free. For groups of 10 or more, the gallery offers special pricing of $11 per person. For additional information, call (702) 693-7871 or (877) 957-9777, or visit their website.
BGFA is open daily 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Last admissions are sold 30 minutes prior to closing. Guests may enjoy complimentary daily docent tours at 2 p.m., and private docent tours are available at an additional cost.
About Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
Located at the heart of the elegant Bellagio Resort & Casino, Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is Las Vegas’ premier exhibition space – where great art goes on vacation. Since opening in 1998, the gallery has presented exhibitions of artworks and objects drawn from internationally acclaimed museums and private collections, including Primal Water: An Exhibition of Contemporary Japanese Art; Samurai: Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection; I Am The Greatest: Muhammad Ali; Town and Country: From Degas to Picasso; Yousuf Karsh: Icons of the 20th Century; Picasso: Creatures and Creativity; Fabergé Revealed; and Warhol Out West.
About Yayoi Kusama
Born in Matsumoto, Japan in 1929, Kusama is known internationally for her installation work, sculptures and paintings. From the time she was a child, Kusama suffered from traumatic hallucinations of being consumed by threatening nets and dots. At the age of 10, she began to use these dots and nets as motifs for her paintings. In 1958, she moved to New York City where she created her first mirrored room and Narcissus Garden, both representing awareness of infinity and admiration for one’s own reflection. Early in her career, Kusama struggled to achieve the same recognition that many of her male counterparts enjoyed and soon moved back to Japan where she sought psychiatric assistance in dealing with depression. Over the next 20 years, Kusama re-established herself in the art world. In 1993 she was the first Japanese woman to have a solo show at the 45th Venice Biennale, and in 2002 she exhibited over 280 works at the Matsumoto City Art Gallery, where she still exhibits today. Kusama partnered with Louis Vuitton in 2012, opened her own museum in 2017 and is the subject of a feature-length documentary film about her life, Kusama – Infinity.
