Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors Exhibit

Last weekend, I went to the Infinity Mirrors exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario. In case you have somehow evaded social media for the last few years, Infinity Mirrors is the incredibly photogenic and mind-blowing brainchild of Yayoi Kusama, a contemporary Japanese artist. The exhibit featured the infinity rooms, as well as some of her well-known sculptures and paintings. If you weren't able to snag a ticket but were hoping to catch a glimpse of the exhibit, look no further! 

As a lover of polka dots and all things colourful, this exhibit was right up my alley. The use of perspective and mirrors was mesmerizing, and I had truly never seen anything like it (the closest I've gotten is those bathroom mirrors that are set up to make it look like there are thousands of you standing over a sink all in a row).

I have two warnings/pieces of advice for those of you who managed to secure a ticket but haven't been yet. Firstly, the lines are LONG. Even longer than people have told you. If you have any trouble standing for extensive periods of time, I'd recommend taking every precaution and coming as prepared as possible. Also, bring something to do (leave a few emails to answer, have some photos to edit, download a solitaire app, etc.).

There are two lines for each room: one for singles and one for groups. Quite a few groups decided to break apart and use the singles line because it was typically shorter. If you're okay with going into the exhibits with strangers (it's only for 20-30 seconds), then this is definitely a better option than waiting it out in the group line.

My second piece of advice? PLEASE turn off your flash, and make sure you've actually done so. Taking photos is definitely part of the experience (as you've seen on Instagram and throughout this blog post) because of how memorable the exhibit is but, like I said, you only have 20-30 seconds in each room (maybe even less). There were numerous times when my friend and I were put in a room with a stranger who was fiddling with the flash on their iPhone camera. Not only did it ruin some of our photos but more importantly, but it ruined the experience. Lighting plays a huge role in this exhibit, and no one is paying to be blinded by a bright phone flash in tight quarters.

At the end of the exhibit, you're handed a sheet that's full of colourful polka dot stickers. You're supposed to place them anywhere in the Obliteration Room (pictured below), and all objects are fair game. It's super fun to try to find any remaining blank space, and it's cool to feel like you're contributing to the art installation. Photo-wise, it's also the only room that's not subject to a time limit and that has decent lighting.

In terms of the sculptures and paintings, check out the photos below!

The Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors exhibit at the AGO ends May 27, 2018.