Yayoi Kusama is coming to town!

▲ One of Yayoi Kusama’s most famous works, "Pumpkin", will also be exhibited in Taiwan. (Photo provided by the organizer)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

Yayoi Kusama, the renowned Japanese artist beloved by art enthusiasts, will present "Dreams I Dreamed: Yayoi Kusama Asia Tour" in Kaohsiung and Taichung starting February 7, 2015. Featuring 118 iconic works, this will be Yayoi Kusama’s first large-scale solo exhibition in Taiwan.

This edition of "Dreams I Dreamed: Yayoi Kusama Asia Tour" is curated by Yayoi Kusama's studio in Japan and Kim Sun-hee, director of Daegu Art Museum in South Korea. The tour kicks off at the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts and then moves to the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts in Taichung on June 6. The 118 artworks on display include installations, sculptures, paintings, and videos. Iconic works such as "Pumpkin", "Infinity Mirror Room", and "Obsession with Dots" will all be presented in full, and Yayoi Kusama has also specially created a new work for the Asia tour titled "Eternal Prayer for My Beloved Tulips". This piece utilizes dots of varying sizes within a three-dimensional space to create an ever-changing visual experience, making it one of the highlights of the exhibition.

▲ Yayoi Kusama’s special creation for the Asia tour, "Eternal Prayer for My Beloved Tulips"

Kim Sun-hee noted that this tour includes the most comprehensive collection of Yayoi Kusama’s works throughout her career, and in terms of quantity, it is the largest in Asia. Although Yayoi Kusama has traveled less frequently in recent years due to health concerns, she places great importance on the Taiwan exhibition. She also sent a special video message to greet the people of Taiwan. In the video, Yayoi Kusama said, “Perhaps because Taiwan is the closest land to us, I am very much looking forward to it.” Kim Sun-hee hopes visitors will be able to experience the charm and artistic power of Yayoi Kusama’s works through this exhibition.

▲ Yayoi Kusama’s work "Obsession with Dots"

The event sponsor, Taishin Bank, also announced that from January 26, 2015, it will host a free preview exhibition of Yayoi Kusama’s "Footprints of Life" on the first floor of the Taishin Financial Holding headquarters building to warm up for this cultural extravaganza.

%暮??笄袷辛⒚朗豕莨莩そ鹕萍Вㄗ蟠）为本次活动策办人。（图／记者陈睿中摄）

Chinese Exhibition Title: Dreams I Dreamed: Yayoi Kusama Asia Tour – Taiwan Stop
English Exhibition Title: KUSAMA YAYOI, A Dream I Dreamed

Kaohsiung Stop
Time: February 7 – May 17, 2015 (Tuesday to Sunday, 09:30–17:30; closed on Mondays and Lunar New Year’s Eve)
Venue: Exhibition Rooms 201–203, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts

Taichung Stop
Time: June 6 – August 30, 2015 (Tuesday to Friday, 09:00–17:00; Saturday and Sunday, 09:00–18:00; closed on Mondays)
Venue: Exhibition Room 101, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts