Renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, celebrated worldwide for her immersive installations featuring polka dot motifs and her iconic mirrored Infinity Rooms, passed away in August at the age of 97.
Soon, her installation Fireflies on the Water will be on display at Mudam, having spent the last 21 years in Nancy. The work consists of an intimate, mirrored space with a black ceiling, a pool of water on the floor, and 150 vibrant lights. These lights are endlessly reflected on the walls and water, creating the illusion of infinite space. Visitors enter alone, standing on a central platform, and are enveloped by the sensation of being surrounded by thousands of fireflies.
Kusama’s installation draws inspiration from traditional Japanese customs such as 'hotaru gari', the summer pastime of watching fireflies, and 'tōrō nagashi', in which lanterns are set afloat on water, creating a meditative, dreamlike atmosphere.
In keeping with Kusama’s vision, the installation is designed to be experienced by only one person at a time. This solitary setting encourages visitors to reflect on themselves, transcend their egos and physical limitations, and feel a sense of connection with the universe.
While Fireflies on the Water belongs to the Whitney Museum’s collection in New York, it was most recently exhibited at the Musée des Beaux Arts in Nancy. From 25 September, the installation will be featured at Mudam Luxembourg as part of the group exhibition Kaihō: Japanese Women Artists after 1945, which runs until 14 February 2027.
The exhibition focuses on the important role of Japanese women artists in the post-war period and the decades that followed, which were marked by profound changes. Alongside Yayoi Kusama’s installation, works by artists such as Yoko Ono, Atsuko Tanaka, Fujiko Nakaya and many others are on display, some of which have never before been shown outside Japan.
