Beyond Infinity
Yayoi Kusama
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
Through February 2021
Ms. Hen does not usually write about art, because it is not her
specialty.
But she wants to attempt to write about this exhibit,
because she thinks
there’s a lot to say about it.
She really didn’t know what it was before she went.
She saw the pictures of the polka dots, and the mirrors.
Ms. Hen didn’t know how intense it would be.
She got an email the day before that said she could not
bring bags
into the exhibit. She was sad she could not go in
but she learned about it vicariously.
The viewers are only allowed two minutes in a room that’s a
small box
in a bigger room.
Only four people went in at a time.
They were not allowed to touch anything.
The room is small with tentacles covered in polka dots
coming off the floor and mirrors
on the floor and ceiling and walls. The artist recites a Japanese love
poem in the room
on a loop. Ms. Hen tried to take as many pictures as she
could,
but she realized that she was taking pictures and not
experiencing the art.
She came to think that was the point of the exhibit.
To be Instagram worthy.
She doesn’t think it’s right that art should be meant for
later,
but that’s what it is.
two minutes in the Infinity Room goes by fast.
After she left, she read the translation of the poem in
English.
She thought the exhibition strange,
but she understands why people like it.
To be in a different world for a short time,
someone else’s dreamscape,
an escape from reality
into weirdness.
People need release from boring lives.
This exhibit is anything but boring.
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