Now, in the capital city of Doha, residents and visitors can now experience the works of iconic Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama, as she brings an outdoor exhibition of her art to the Museum of Islamic Art. Kusama is a contemporary artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation, but is also active in painting, performance, video art, fashion, poetry, fiction, among other mediums.
Her Qatar exhibition is titled, ‘My Soul Blooms Forever’, and features the Middle East debut of many of Kusama’s large-scale artworks that convey her enthrallment with nature.
The Japanese artist’s installations are bright and imposing, featuring oversized plants, spotted pumpkins, and elements from Kusama’s earliest outdoor installation, such as Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees (2002/2022); Dancing Pumpkin (2020); Infinity Mirrored Room; and more. The exhibition is sponsored by Louis Vuitton and will be on display at the MIA Park until 1st March 2023. It also celebrates the 10-year anniversary of Qatar’s Years of Culture programme, and is a legacy of the Qatar-Japan Year of Culture celebrated in 2012.
Yayoi Kusama’s works are also part of a wider, year-round, national cultural program, titled, “Qatar Creates,” which exhibits installations of 40 public artworks by Qatari, regional, and international artists across Qatar in conjunction with the 2022 Fifa World Cup. “The grounds of the Museum of Islamic Art have become a favourite outdoor gathering place in Doha, marked by an array of public artworks that range from playful to iconic,” said Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums in a statement. “With these new installations by Yayoi Kusama — one of the world’s most visionary artists — MIA Park has been magically transformed for the people we are welcoming from around the world for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” she said.
