Gropius Bau, Berlin to present the first major retrospective by Yayoi Kusama in Germany

The Gropius Bau will stage the first major retrospective of Kusama’s work in Germany, shading light on the key periods in her oeuvre, which spans more than 70 years, and highlighting the significance of her art in Europe – and Germany in particular.

The exhibition space, which comprises nearly 3000 m², will include faithful reconstructions of the artist’s signature shows, a new Infinity Mirror Room, recent paintings and an installation in the Gropius Bau’s atrium, created especially for this presentation.

Stephanie Rosenthal, Director of the Gropius Bau and curator of the exhibition stated:
“We are delighted that our retrospective of Yayoi Kusama will showcase the work of a visionary, radical artist. Not only did Kusama establish a singular status in the art world of the 1960s with her multi-disciplinary practice, her political statements also contributed to the feminist discourse of the time. Certain issues that have lost none of their relevance today, from the importance of empowering women to the intentional nature of self-styling, can be identified from very early on in her oeuvre. By reconstructing ground-breaking exhibitions, which Kusama designed herself down to the last detail, this presentation will reflect on the artist’s presence in Germany and trace the development of her art since the 1950s. One aim of the Berlin retrospective is to address her artistic persona and highlight the important role that she has played in an international network of artists, critics, curators and galleries.”