The Yayoi Kusama Museum in Bentencho, Tokyo, will host its grand opening exhibition, "Creation is a Solitary Activity; Love Is the True Approach to Art," from October 1 to February 25, 2018. This inaugural exhibition, centered around Kusama's latest painting series, "My Eternal Soul," spans the second through fifth floors, offering a rare opportunity to experience Kusama's ever-evolving latest works and the vivid breath of her brushstrokes. ■Second Floor Gallery This exhibition features 27 works from "Love is Forever," a series of freehand monochrome drawings that served as a precursor to "My Eternal Soul." The monochrome drawings, executed with unwavering black marker, combine Kusama's signature elements, such as the repetition and accumulation of abstract shapes like lines and polka dots, with concrete imagery, such as the mysterious and humorous alien-like characters that have become prominent since that series.

■3rd Floor Gallery
"My Eternal Soul," a series of large-scale acrylic paintings bursting with vibrant colors, will be on display. Initially aiming for 100 pieces, the series was produced at an astounding pace of one piece per day, or even one every two days. Currently, the artist has carefully selected 16 pieces, including previously unpublished works, from over 530 pieces. This exhibition showcases the culmination of Kusama's artistic endeavors.

■4th Floor Gallery / 5th Floor Rooftop Gallery
"Pumpkins Scream Love to Infinity," a new installation created specifically for the exhibition, will be on display. Since her first mirror work, "Infinity Mirror Room - Field of Phallus," in 1965, Kusama has created numerous interactive works known as "Mirror Rooms." His latest work takes pumpkins, which he has been interested in since childhood for their "generous and unadorned appearance" as their theme. A vision of a polka-dot pumpkin twinkling in the darkness is endlessly repeated in a mirrored room. It's an immersive piece, as if you're in a pumpkin patch floating in space. Additionally, a new pumpkin sculpture, "Starry Pumpkin," will be exhibited on the fifth-floor rooftop. A lecture by museum director Akira Takehata will be held on October 22nd at 2:30 PM. Additionally, gallery talks by curators will be held on October 7th and 28th at 2:30 PM. Each session is limited to those in attendance at the respective times. The exhibition will be rotated four times a day, with a capacity of 50 people per session. Tickets are available online only through the museum's website (http://www.yayoikusamamuseum.jp).
【Event Information】
"Yayoi Kusama Museum Grand Opening Exhibition: 'Creation is a Solitary Activity; Love is the True Approach to Art'"
Dates: October 1st - February 25th, 2018
Venue: Yayoi Kusama Museum
Address: 107 Bentencho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00 - 17:00 (rotation system)
Closed: Monday - Wednesday (except public holidays), December 25th - January 17th, 2018
Admission Fee: Adults 1,000 yen, elementary, junior high and high school students 600 yen, preschoolers free