Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirror Room Opens in Bergamo

Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirror Room 'Fireflies on the Water' (2022), originally created for the Whitney Museum, is now on view at Palazzo della Ragione in Bergamo as part of the city's tenure as Italian Capital of Culture alongside Brescia. The exhibition, titled 'Infinito Presente,' features the mirrored room as the sole artwork, accompanied by an introductory corridor with photos and information. Visitors are allowed one minute inside the dark, mirror-lined space that sits on water, evoking a contemplative atmosphere with twinkling lights. The show has been a massive success, with tens of thousands of tickets sold weeks before opening, prompting the city to extend the run from mid-January to late March 2023 and extend hours. Mayor Giorgio Gori noted the unprecedented early extension. Curated by Stefano Raimondi (director of The Blank network) and Maria Marzia Minelli, the exhibition is part of the ArtDate festival, which for the first time involves Brescia. The city aims to attract international tourists and promote local cultural venues. Accessibility features include accommodations for deaf visitors, family workshops, and corporate visits. Kusama herself contributed a message about light and hope in the post-COVID context. The exhibition references her 1966 Venice Biennale protest piece 'Narcissus Garden,' but this iteration emphasizes consolation rather than critique.