I’m glad I was able to make my way to the David Zwirner Gallery before Yayoi Kusama’s “Give Me Love” exhibit closed. The 86-year-old Japanese artist debuted the installation on May 9th and has had a great response. As I walked down West 19th Street and still a few blocks away from the gallery, I noticed several people walking with polka dot stickers on their clothing, the same stickers used by Kusama. By the time I got to the gallery, a line of about 40 people were ahead of me. I waited in line for almost 30 minutes and didn’t mind since I was excited to view the exhibit since I heard about it. I’ve seen photos on social media and had to make my way to the gallery to see it for myself.
The exhibit was held inside the form of a house completed with windows, mailbox, and the American flag hanging. Before viewers entered the house, an employee handed each person a sheet of polka dot stickers to apply anywhere inside–a great and unique way to viewers be part of the art. Collages of polka dot stickers covered almost every inch and crevice of white surface. Viewing the exhibit made my eyes smile; such beautiful colors displayed excessively, but through the simpleness of stickers on plain white surfaces. “Give Me Love” is how I’ve experienced true love, at times it can be helplessly demanding, but beautiful. It strips you down and all that you have left is excessive and overwhelming passion.
After exiting the house, the gallery had Kusama’s exhibit of large metal pumpkin sculptures spaced throughout a room. Some of the pumpkins had cut-out holes while others matched the stickers and were covered in polka dots. I don’t think I’ll ever look at polka dot stickers the same anymore. As Kusama said, “With just one polka dot, nothing can be achieved.”
To learn more about Yayoi Kusama, click here.
David Zwirner Gallery
529 West 19th Street
New York, NY 10011
Read more Art news on ClicheMag.com
Tatiana in Wonderland: David Zwirner Gallery, photos courtesy of Tatiana Stec
