Known as the woman behind the dots, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is notably one of the most acknowledged contemporary artists of our time. Kusama crafted a visual language that was essentially derived from vivid hallucinatory episodes she began experiencing at the age of 10, tapping into the creativity that stemmed from her own private world of color and pattern; she set it on a global stage, where her name became synonymous with polka dots. Transforming mediocre spaces into fantastical hallucinatory experiences, the revered artist is set to bring her world all the way to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the otherworldly landscape of AlUla.
Kusama will be exhibiting her artwork titled, “Brilliance of the Souls” at AlUla’s Wellness Festival from Oct. 18 to Nov. 4. The artwork is from Kusama’s Infinity Room Series that has traveled around the world transporting thousands of viewers into a vision of endless reflections, adorned with spheres of multicolored lights floating in an ethereal dimension.
The installation is designed in a manner that caters to AlUla’s unique rocky landscapes, seamlessly integrating AlUla’s essence through the lens of the Japanese artist. Visitors will discover a small deceptive space with reflective surfaces and water surrounding the central platform. Once the door closes behind them, the normal world fades away and they are instantly immersed in an enchanting wonderland.
AlUla’s Wellness Festival offers two weeks of activities and workshops that promote mind, body, and wellness inspired by AlUla’s historic and natural history. An extensive calendar of curated programmes developed in collaboration with world-class industry leaders is featured in this year’s edition.