At long last Indianapolis has been given a glimpse into the wondrous universe that is Yayoi Kusama’s imagination. “Infinitely Kusama”, on display at Newfields until March 29, 2020, offers visitors a small taste of the Japanese artist’s iconic avant-garde installations.
The installation packs a punch with its illuminated forms and mirrored walls, despite only two visitors being allowed to enter for 45 seconds at a time. Kusama works in all types of artistic mediums from sculpture, to paintings, and in the event of one of her mirrored pieces, a whole room.
The 90-year-old artist grew up in a small town called Matsumoto City, where she draws much of her inspiration from and began her love affair with polka dots from a very young age. When she achieved her dream of going to New York City, that’s where she began creating mirrored rooms in the mid-1960s.
Her style is a fusion of the time, embracing minimalism and pop art elements. Her work is bold, colorful, and kaleidoscopic… almost like a cosmic hallucination that ensnares the senses.
Upon entering the gallery hosting the Infinity Room, all there appears to be is a small white cube in the center of the room. Once you enter it, you’re dazzled by brightly lit pumpkins which seem to be “infinite” from the mirrored reflections on every surface. If you look above, the ceilings emphasize the bright pumpkins and you appear to float in a sea of color and darkness.
This piece feels like being on another planet, in another dimension, where everything is immensely beautiful and surreal. It’s an experience that is a reflection of the nonagenarian herself: enigmatic, peculiar, and whimsical. The repetition in her work is almost compulsive, yet precise, and that is something to be said about Kusama.
Kusama’s work is more than worthy of your time, with student discounts getting you free memberships or regular admission being $18. The only minor complaint would be that, due to the artist’s popularity and Instagram, you’re constrained as a viewer by the time limitations within the exhibit. Luckily, if it’s a slower day at the museum, all you have to do is a loop back around if you need to take more of it in.
Inaugural book crawl comes to Indianapolis
By Laynie Rearick | April 29You’ve heard of a bar crawl, but have you heard of a book crawl? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like (with presumably less alcohol). A book crawl involves visiting several independent bookstores as a way to support local businesses, connect with fellow book lovers and win prizes or rewards.
The "invisible orientation": Ace identity, culture and misconceptions
By Jackie Bozinovski | April 10International Asexuality Day took place April 6, and for all asexuals (aces), it’s a day to celebrate ourselves, our experience and the community as a whole. As an asexual myself, I’ve read a plethora of asexual content that gave answers to all my questions and a voice to affirm that my identity is valid and my experience matters. As such, I’ve decided to clear up three common misconceptions about the asexual community and shed some light on the invisible orientation.
Hinge released their dating report, here’s what IUPUI students think
By Milo Anderson | March 29From fears of meeting new people to a pandemic to getting into the landscape of online dating, there are plenty of reasons to feel awkward about dating as a young adult. Gen Z has been forced into the middle of one of the most turbulent times to meet new people, and for some, it can be too much.
