On the night of August 27-28, the facade of Almaty Museum of Arts (ALMA) turned into a pulsating canvas of colorful circles, paying tribute to the legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama in Almaty. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
As the museum explained, circles are one of the most recognizable motifs in Kusama's works.
Yayoi Kusama passed away on August 14 in Tokyo at the age of 98. She became one of the most famous contemporary artists. Her works are associated with themes of infinity, space, and the perception of art.
Almaty Museum of Arts is the only museum in Central Asia and the CIS where Kusama's works are part of the permanent collection.
Currently, visitors can see her installation LOVE IS CALLING, created in 2013. It is part of the famous Infinity Mirror Rooms cycle. Inside the space are glowing polka-dotted forms, and the artist's own voice reads a poem about love, eternity, and human life.
In 2027, another work by Kusama will appear in the museum's collection — the bronze sculpture Aspiring to Pumpkin’s Love, the Love in My Heart from 2023. It is dedicated to one of the artist's most famous images — the pumpkin.
ALMA emphasized that the light projection on the facade does not copy Kusama's works. It was created specifically in memory of the artist, inspired by her creativity and the theme of infinity.
"Yayoi Kusama taught the world to see infinity in simple forms and to find healing in art. Being an institution representing her work in our region is a great privilege and responsibility," said Gaukhar Satpayeva, head of communications at ALMA.
According to her, the light projection became a sign of respect for the artist, whose works and voice continue to live in the museum.