Infinite Kusama at the AGO

"Narcissus Garden" (1966)

A couple weeks ago I joined fellow jewellery designer Lisa Ridout for a quick afternoon work break at the gallery. We checked out the Riopelle/Mitchell show, which we both really enjoyed, but on this visit I was happy to get to view "Narcissus Garden" by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.  Earlier in the Winter I had waited and waited... and waited online (along with evidently thousands of others) to get tickets to see her mirror exhibit, Infinite Kusama. The day was still a week and a half away, so seeing this installation of many spheres only had the anticipation building even higher.

This installation was initially exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1966. The artist had intended for each ball to be for sale so one could purchase their own narcissism.

About a week later, my good friend KK and I got to experience Kusama's 6 mirrored rooms as well as many other pieces on exhibit. We were soooo excited! 

"Infinity Mirrored Room -- Phalli's Field" (1965/2016)

"Phalli's Field" is made of many many sewn, spotted and stuffed textile forms. Kusama apparently had a fear of sex and her study of these phallic forms over many years was a way for her to address her anxiety.

We geeked out and decided to dress for the occasion. I selected a mirrored skirt my neighbour recently gave me and I had not had the chance to wear. It seemed like the perfect thing for this! I paired it with the Medallion Necklace which combines the polka dot theme with the shimmering effect of the mirrors. I was happy to observe that we were not alone in dressing for the exhibit! There were plenty of people in dots and other themed outfits. I know, you must think that I'm about one step away from wearing all Christmas themed things for all of December. Don't worry, I was laughing at myself here too. Haha!

"Ennui" (1976)

"Infinity Mirrored Room -- The Souls of a Million Light Years Away" (2013)

This room was one of my favourites. I had been trying to avoid seeing images of this show in the months leading up to our visit. I had been told by Lisa that one room was like Swarovski Crystals on drugs and am going to guess she meant this one. This photo doesn't do it justice. You are allowed 20 seconds in each room. It's such a short amount of time, yet for fleeting moments, you will instantly get lost in another world as soon as the door is closed. I found I wanted to experience the rooms with my eyes, yet I still wanted to record it by snapping a photo or two in the 20 seconds. So I did both, and sometimes took photos without looking at what I was photographing, so some of these are not my best effort! Check out my Instagram feed @moonrox_ca to see a video of this room.

"Life" (1998)

 "Dots Obsession -- Love Transformed into Dots" (2007, installed 2018)

This huge room was filled with a warm pink glow emanating from these giant polka dotted hollow forms. Amongst all of these spheres was one speckled orb with a hole that was only about 3 inches in diameter that you could peep into.

This was the mirrored spectacle inside.

In one particularly large spotted ball was one of the rooms that we could enter. This one felt a little like I had entered someone's closet. I'm not sure why.

"Infinity Mirrored Room -- Love Forever" (1966/1994)

It's amazing that Kusama first created this over 50 years ago. It's a many sided piece with two small windows so you would see yourself and potentially the face of your love reflected endlessly. The colours changed by the moment and it was mesmerizing. We lined up twice for this one and one other. If we were not super hungry, we won't have stayed longer and gotten in line a few more times. 

 "Obliteration Room" 

This room starts out entirely blank white -- completely devoid of colour. Each visitor is given a sheet of stickers that you can then place anywhere you like! The white will gradually become obliterated. We visited in the first week of the show, so I'm interested to see how it will look like in even a month's time. Here is a video of the "Obliteration Room" at the Tate in 2012.

"Infinity Mirrored Room -- Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity" (2009)

This was also one of my favourites. I think I am unable to decide which was my favourite. Can I have a top 3? This room was so breathtaking and tranquil as you become encompassed in the warm glow of so many little lanterns in this ethereal space.

The whole show was beautiful and unlike anything I had ever experienced before. You are truly immersed in the art, in fact, becoming part of it. You become one with the piece as your own familiar image is reflected back to you a multitude of times along with your manufactured surrounding. In some of the spaces, you become so lost in the infinity before you that you almost feel as if you are no longer standing on the ground.

So after 13 plus hours waiting for the tickets and a couple months awaiting the arrival of this day, it was worth it. What's any of those amounts of time in comparison to infinity!?

Luminato 2016

Luminato was a little different than in years past. It was a completely new experience as it was not set up in a variety of outposts across the city, but took place in the derelict former power station, the Hearn. Grabbed a couple friends and ventured across town late one night. Glad we went around 9:30 p.m. as it wasn't busy and we were free to explore without the distraction of too many other visitors. Also, the musical performance was on and the sound reverberated throughout the building like a soundtrack for our night. To be very honest, I am not normally a Rufus Wainwright fan, but we all agreed he and his band sounded great in this cavernous space. Enjoyed sipping on a drink and checking out the installations especially the world's largest disco ball, 'One Thousand Speculations' by Michel de Broin. The light bounced off the disco ball and danced around the space eerily. Wish we could have dined in the restaurant set up in the control room. It smelled divine. As we exited the building at the end of the night, Rufus was singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow". We marvelled that Toronto can be pretty cool sometimes with some pretty great events. Sometimes we forget to give our town due credit!

Speaking of pretty great events, I also caught a talk with Steve Martin. He was in town to discuss his curatorial role in the upcoming Lawren Harris show, 'The Idea of North' at the Art Gallery of Ontario. He bantered with Andrew Hunter about his experiences in Toronto, how he came to love and collect the works of Harris, and told other humorous anecdotes. Both men were great conversationalists and extremely funny. I left filled with good vibes, feeling inspired and looking very forward to catching the show when it opens in a few days.

Time to get a little sleep. Have made a few resolutions to myself in the past few days. Going to keep most to myself but, one was to get better sleep. Another was to pursue some non-jewellery related creative endeavours. The world lost dapper fashion photographer Bill Cunningham yesterday. He was 87 years old. Read that he didn't begin shooting for the Times until he was over 40. Kind of inspiring to think about how much he accomplished even just from mid-life onwards. What a full life. Hope to be so lucky.

Goodnight!

xo
M

Art inspiration

Took a couple hours on a grey afternoon to roam around the AGO. It was the day before my membership was to expire, so being the last minute type, I felt the urge to take advantage and perhaps find some inspiration! Caught the Outsiders show which is the featured exhibit of American photography and film from the 50's to 80's. So many fascinating images that tell so many stories. Leisurely took my time to examine them. 

Here are some other highlights! Above is 'Man Changing into Thunderbird' by Norval Morriseau.

On every visit to the gallery, I make sure to pass through the rooms housing the Group of Seven to see my favourite pieces -- these two small works depicting the 'Northern Lights' by Tom Thomson. I have never seen the northern lights in real life and it has been on my to do list. I don't want to use the term bucket list. I once looked at these and had a magical dream from the night before flood back and was seemingly whisked away into another world. Love looking at the brush strokes and handling of these. Stood here for several minutes in quiet contemplation.

'Shaman Muscox' by Manasie Akpaliapik charmed me. These carvings discuss the vulnerabilities and social ills of the communities of the artist's Arctic homeland.

Aimlessly wandered through Song Dong's 'Communal Courtyard' at the same time as a sweet little toddler excitedly getting lost with her mom. Love the curiosity and innocence of the very young!

Snuff bottles in the most lovely colours.

A quiet moment with 'York Factory (Sketch) VI' by Frank Stella.

Left feeling inspired and relaxed. A perfect brief retreat in the heart of the city!

A day in the city

Today I spent a lovely afternoon with a friend. We lunched, we chatted over coffee, then chatted over tea, popped into Sylvie and Shimmy and checked out some jewels on display, and went to see some art.

Last week I randomly went to an opening at Open Studio and was happily surprised to find that two of my art school profs were part of the show. After a quick catch up on what I am up to now, my former drawing professor lightheartedly reprimanded me for not seeing more art more often with so much at my fingertips. He was right! Feeling slightly less guilt after roaming the AGO and catching the Turner exhibit today. 

Nice to feel inspired by art. Now I must remember to make more art!

Aishti Magazine - Toronto feature

Check out the Toronto is for Lovers Bracelet amongst all these Toronto gems in Lebanon based Aishti Magazine!

Some recent pics

J. Lo's wad of twos.

Coffee at La Merceria.

Love that place... a dose of calm on an ugly strip of Adelaide.

Okra. Been addicted to it.

Chinatown light post.

Horsing around.

Rear of the AGO

Underneath the platform at OCAD.

I've been enjoying this little fling with Spring we've been having, though it is totally abnormal that it is this warm in February... Just a few more weeks until the season of renewal arrives...

Visit to the new AGO

This post is a couple days late and the visit a few months overdue. On wednesday nights the Art Gallery of Ontario offers free admission from 6pm to 8:30. On this past wednesday, it was pandemonium. I am starting to get antsy in crowds as I get older. I felt like I was floating through the exhibits with the masses, but it was WELL worth a visit. I had not been to the AGO since the completion of the Frank Gehry re-design. He has done an amazing job. Here's what it says on the AGO site about the re-design:

The new AGO is Toronto-born Frank Gehry’s first building in Canada and marks the very place where he made the initial connection between art and architecture. Hallmarks of his AGO design connect the city and the Gallery in provocative new ways including, dramatic sculptural staircases, the warmth of Douglas fir, and the extensive use of glass which infuses the galleries with natural light. As you will discover, it is an extraordinary new home for extraordinary new art.

On this visit, I must say I was more mesmerized by the beauty of the formerly mundane building (or maybe I was just too used to seeing it) than most of the actual collections. I'll have to go again when I can better focus on the actual art!

The views of the city from the AGO reminded me of this photo of the downtown skyscape that I recently snapped from my balcony. Some days the city gleams and looks so nice!