This audio-visual guide allows you to view two of Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms from the comfort of your own home – perfect if you have accessibility needs or can't get to London. The video explains Kusama and what experiences she draws on within her work throughout.
The first installation we come to is The Universe As Seen From The Stairway To Heaven.. The artwork is a cube that when the viewer looks through, and using mirrors you experience a kaleidoscope of colours that seem to have no end. At first, I felt uneasy as it was unfamiliar, but it quickly draws you back as you start to appreciate the rainbow of colours and intricacies on screen.
Moving on to Chandelier Of Grief, the voiceover describes the sensations of this room, adding to the atmosphere of the visuals on screen. The artwork is made to make you feel anxious and on edge, and there is one chandelier at head height that is then mirrored around a pitch-black room, creating a movie like entrapment for the viewer.
All the rooms draw on Kusama’s experience of psychosis and psychedelic experiences, the most popular room from the exhibition also features on the online guide. Filled With The Brilliance Of Life uses small LED’s to create thousands of small multicoloured shimmering lights in a darkroom which also has a reflective floor, allowing you to feel like you're truly immersed in the artwork. Despite this being an online guide it still gave me a sense of apprehension and translated beautifully what Kusama wanted to convey. As well as the voiceover it was also overlaid with intense high pitched jangly music, which also made the viewing a more immersive experience.
The guide finishes by showing the viewer various photographs of Yayoi Kusama and explaining about her life and career. Overall I enjoyed the video guide as an accessible option and like how the Tate Modern shot the artworks, you still sensed what the artist was looking to capture.
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