Japanese Cosmic Show Meets American Garden
2021-04-17
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1The large, brightly colored circles and pumpkins at the New York Botanical Garden are part of a new show called "Kusama: Cosmic Nature."
2They are the works of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.
3Tired of staying home during the year-long pandemic, people are quickly buying tickets for the show.
4It will remain on view through the end of October.
5Most of the artworks are outdoors and are big enough to enjoy while remaining socially distanced.
6Visitors will want to wear good walking shoes because the show spreads over the 100-hectare garden in New York City.
7The garden fits well with Kusama's complex works which are all related to nature.
8Kusama grew up in the greenhouses and fields of her family's large seed company in Matsumoto, Japan.
9When Kusama was young, she began seeing colorful images that seemed real to her.
10In some of them, flowers and pumpkins talked to her.
11They also involved polka dots or flowers spreading around her.
12Mika Yoshitake is the curator, the person who selects and sets up artworks for the show.
13"For Kusama, cosmic nature is a life force," Yoshitake said.
14She explains that Kusama's work brings together things on the Earth and in the stars.
15Karen Daubmann oversees shows at the garden.
16Beyond the polka dots, she said Kusama's work combines sadness and joy, "which really speaks to the current moment."
17Works appearing at the Kusama show include the nearly 5 meter-high painted bronze "Dancing Pumpkin" (2020).
18It appears to jump around happily.
19"I Want to Fly the Universe" (2020) is a brightly colored 4 meter-high flower with a face to greet visitors at arrival.
20"Infinity Mirrored Room - Illusion Inside the Heart" (2020) is an outdoor piece that mirrors its surroundings.
21Inside the Conservatory, or the greenhouse, there is the polka-dotted flowers "My Soul Blooms Forever" (2019) greeting visitors in one room.
22Nearby, the pink and gold "Starry Pumpkin" (2015) sits among real woodland flowers and leaves in different colors.
23In a body of water, visitors can see "Narcissus Garden" (1966/2021) with 1,400 floating steel balls.
24In 1966, at the Venice Biennale, Kusama got into trouble for trying to sell the balls for $2 each.
25And tall trees are wrapped in bright red cloth with white polka dots called "Ascension of the Polka Dots on the Trees" (2002/2021).
26Visitors can also view a book of drawings she made in 1945, at age 16.
27It is full of careful, realistic drawings of plants.
28Also on view is her "Infinity Net" painting, which she made after seeing the Pacific Ocean from an airplane.
29A small collection of images shows Kusama's life in New York, where she lived from around 1958 to 1973.
30She was known for doing performance art pieces and leading protests against the Vietnam War.
31Kusama, 92, has lived voluntarily in a Japanese mental hospital for over 40 years.
32Six days a week, she works in a studio next to the hospital.
33She has not traveled to the United States since 2012.
34I'm Jill Robbins.
1The large, brightly colored circles and pumpkins at the New York Botanical Garden are part of a new show called "Kusama: Cosmic Nature." They are the works of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. 2Tired of staying home during the year-long pandemic, people are quickly buying tickets for the show. It will remain on view through the end of October. 3Most of the artworks are outdoors and are big enough to enjoy while remaining socially distanced. Visitors will want to wear good walking shoes because the show spreads over the 100-hectare garden in New York City. 4The garden fits well with Kusama's complex works which are all related to nature. Kusama grew up in the greenhouses and fields of her family's large seed company in Matsumoto, Japan. 5When Kusama was young, she began seeing colorful images that seemed real to her. In some of them, flowers and pumpkins talked to her. They also involved polka dots or flowers spreading around her. 6Mika Yoshitake is the curator, the person who selects and sets up artworks for the show. "For Kusama, cosmic nature is a life force," Yoshitake said. She explains that Kusama's work brings together things on the Earth and in the stars. 7Karen Daubmann oversees shows at the garden. Beyond the polka dots, she said Kusama's work combines sadness and joy, "which really speaks to the current moment." 8Works appearing at the Kusama show include the nearly 5 meter-high painted bronze "Dancing Pumpkin" (2020). It appears to jump around happily. 9"I Want to Fly the Universe" (2020) is a brightly colored 4 meter-high flower with a face to greet visitors at arrival. "Infinity Mirrored Room - Illusion Inside the Heart" (2020) is an outdoor piece that mirrors its surroundings. 10Inside the Conservatory, or the greenhouse, there is the polka-dotted flowers "My Soul Blooms Forever" (2019) greeting visitors in one room. Nearby, the pink and gold "Starry Pumpkin" (2015) sits among real woodland flowers and leaves in different colors. 11In a body of water, visitors can see "Narcissus Garden" (1966/2021) with 1,400 floating steel balls. In 1966, at the Venice Biennale, Kusama got into trouble for trying to sell the balls for $2 each. 12And tall trees are wrapped in bright red cloth with white polka dots called "Ascension of the Polka Dots on the Trees" (2002/2021). 13Visitors can also view a book of drawings she made in 1945, at age 16. It is full of careful, realistic drawings of plants. Also on view is her "Infinity Net" painting, which she made after seeing the Pacific Ocean from an airplane. 14A small collection of images shows Kusama's life in New York, where she lived from around 1958 to 1973. She was known for doing performance art pieces and leading protests against the Vietnam War. 15Kusama, 92, has lived voluntarily in a Japanese mental hospital for over 40 years. Six days a week, she works in a studio next to the hospital. She has not traveled to the United States since 2012. 16I'm Jill Robbins. 17Katherine Roth wrote this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted the story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 18_________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20cosmic - adj. of or relating to the universe or outer space 21garden - n. an area of ground where plants (such as flowers or vegetables) are grown 22greenhouse - n. a building or part of a building that has glass walls and a glass roof and that is used for growing plants 23joy - n. a feeling of great happiness 24drawing - n. a picture, image, etc., that is made by making lines on a surface with a pencil, pen, marker, chalk, etc., but usually not with paint 25bronze - adj. a metal that is made by combining copper and tin 26mirror - v. to what another thing is like in a very clear and accurate way 27wrap - v. to cover (something) by winding or folding a piece of cloth or other material around it