YAYOI KUSAMA: NARCISSUS GARDEN

February 11 – May 14*, 2023 / Aronson Fine Arts Center

Yayoi Kusama’s Narcissus Garden is an immersive installation consisting of approximately 1,000 spheres with highly polished, reflective mirrored surfaces. As the title suggests, Narcissus Garden presents itself as a human-made garden, acknowledging and embracing the inherent narcissism in the viewer’s desire to see themselves reflected within it. The installation will fill the Whitaker Foundation Gallery, turning the space into an engrossing experience of shape, light, and reflections that will present moments of movement and stillness. The shape of the spheres is also indicative of the sun and moon, and when activated, their surface represents the union of man and nature.

First presented in 1966, Narcissus Garden has been reconfigured anew in recent years. With a multiplicity of meaning and interpretation, this monumental sculptural installation refers back to the fundamental trio of the art object, the natural landscape, and the viewer. This noteworthy and historically important work is a prime example of Kusama’s signature motifs of repetition and mirroring to create a sense of infinite space.

Reservations

A reserved time entry is required for viewing Narcissus Garden, due to expected popularity and limited capacity within the gallery. Reservations are free and will open in monthly increments (see schedule below).

Laumeier Members will have access to member-only hours on opening weekend as well as first access to reservations each month. To become a member and take advantage of these benefits, join today at www.laumeier.org/membership.

*MAY 10 is the FINAL DAY for non-members to view the exhibition. The entire Park, including the Aronson Fine Arts Center, will be closed to the public on Thursday, May 11 for Art Fair setup. The Aronson Fine Arts Center will be closed to the public on Friday, May 12 for a private Leadership Circle event. Gallery hours during Art Fair weekend on Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14, will be limited to Laumeier Members only. Please note that Art Fair weekend is our busiest of the year, so we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the final week to see the exhibition.

This delicate artwork is not intended to be touched or moved by visitors. Children will need to be closely supervised to ensure appropriate interaction, and the number of people in the gallery at one time will be limited.

Reservation Opening schedule:

• February 11-28

  • Member access on January 19 at 10 a.m.

  • Public access on January 26 at 10 a.m.

• March 1-31

  • Member access on February 16 at 10 a.m.

  • Public access on February 23 at 10 a.m.

• April 1 - May 10

  • Member access on March 16 at 10 a.m.

  • Public access on March 23 at 10 a.m.

Gallery Hours:

March 15 - May 10

• Wednesday - Friday, 12-7 p.m.

• Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Public Programs

EXHIBITION OPENING / Saturday, February 11, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. / Aronson Fine Arts Center / Laumeier Members Only from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. / General Public from 12 - 4 p.m. / FREE
Be among the first to experience this dazzling installation. Reserved timed entry is required for all visitors.

CONVERSATION SERIES / Kado, The Way of Flowers / Saturday, March 11, 10 a.m. / Kranzberg Education Lab / FREE
Join us for a demonstration of Kado, the contemplative practice of flower arranging using classical Ikebana forms, hosted by Dr. Chikako Usui, Chairman of the Japan America Society of St. Louis. Learn about the way of flower arranging, cultivating an appreciation for nature, the harmony and balance Kado inspires, its cultural importance, and its delicate and ephemeral presentation. This program is full.

FAMILY WORKSHOP / Abstract Self Portraits / Saturday, March 18, 1–3 p.m. / Kranzberg Education Lab / Ages 4 to 12, accompanied by an adult / $40
Act your silliest alongside your family member while using funhouse-like mirrors and paint! Create an abstract self-portrait inspired by Laumeier’s current exhibition, Yayoi Kusama: Narcissus Garden, and show friends and family another side of yourself. Registration required.

MAKERS NIGHT / Shodo, The Way of Writing / Thursday, March 23, 6-8 p.m. / Kranzberg Education Lab / $35
Learn the way of beautiful traditional Japanese calligraphy in this workshop run in collaboration with the Japan America Society of St. Louis. Professional Shodo artist Kaori Ishijima will demonstrate and teach dramatic brush calligraphy using traditional brushes and Sumi inks. The sounds of internationally known violinist, Ms. Aska Kaneko Maret, will accompany the workshop. Click here to register.

LECTURE / Friday, April 14, 12 p.m. / Webster University, Sverdrup Hall Room 123, 8300 Big Bend Blvd / FREE
Join Chicago-based freelance curator and writer Dr. Marin Sullivan for Reflective Acts and Mirrored Images: Yayoi Kusama’s Narcissus Garden, a lecture exploring the presence of the artist in photographs of Narcissus Garden, presenting a complex fusion of artist, image, and object.

CONVERSATION SERIES / Chado, The Way of Tea / Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. / Kranzberg Education Lab / FREE
Join us for a Japanese tea ceremony by Yuko Kitajima, Director of the Japan America Society of St. Louis. Learn about the complexity and simplicity of Japanese spirituality and the historical and cultural significance of Chado. Music from Ms. Aska Kaneko Maret, an internationally known violinist, will complement the ceremony. Enjoy the moment of solace away from everyday concerns over a bowl of Matcha tea prepared just for you. This program is full.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

At age 93, Kusama has enjoyed a long and storied career. Her fantastical imagination and vivid forms stem from both personal biography and cultural history: coming of age in Japan and experiencing the terrors of World War II; the first surfacing of lifelong mental health issues, including hallucinations; and later living in the U.S. during the post-war years. Kusama repeats signature shapes and motifs in drawings, paintings, and fantastical sculptural environments, including pumpkins, polka-dots, nets, and mirrors. 

In recent years, Kusama’s work has struck a chord with a new generation and has benefitted from social media to bring her global fame. Her work has incredibly broad appeal, especially in the worlds of art, design, and fashion. These connections will be explored in part by Laumeier’s 2023 Cultural Thinker in Residence, AK Brown. Brown, also known as “The Fashion Connector,” is a St. Louis-based fashion innovator and influencer. She will develop Kusama-related programming for Laumeier in the digital realm, including on social media and other platforms. 

Yayoi Kusama: Narcissus Garden is supported by

2023 Exhibitions are supported by Alison and John Ferring, Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, Joan and Mitchell Markow and Two Sisters Foundation, Emily Rauh Pulitzer, and Mary Ann and Andy Srenco.