Yayoi Kusama really has this city in a hold. For starters, we haven’t been able to move for the glittering Infinity Rooms Exhibition at the Tate Modern for the last few years for which the demand has always been so heavy that it’s continuously extended. Plus, she’s added her tallest pumpkin sculpture to date to Kensington Gardens in all its polka dot glory.
Now, in the latest part of Kusama’s busy summer, you’ll be able to check out her work in the public eye, with the glimmering new ‘Infinite Accumulation’ model officially unveiled outside Liverpool Street station – marking her first permanent installation in the UK!
In its shape, it’s vintage Kusama, with the polka dot theme easily recognised. However, it’s made from steel and glimmers along with the sunlight making it unlike anything we’ve seen from the iconic 93-year-old artist in the city before.
The spheres that make up the artwork all join together, with their height ranging from level with us to towering high above us, weaving into the skyline that surrounds the public in the area scattered with very, very tall buildings. They reach over 10 metres high, and 12 metres wide, and are polished to reflect everything around them.
‘Infinite Accumulation’ comes as part of TfL’s Art on the Underground, and was commissioned back in 2019 to be part of the public art programme for the Elizabeth line alongside the support of Victoria Miro Gallery. it was co-funded by British Land and the City Of London Corporation, and os the final commissioned piece to be installed for the Crossrail Art Programme.
According to its page for the TfL programme, it was designed in response to the new station’s architecture and hopes people will look up and respond to the urban environment in a different way.
It’s now a permanent part of the area, meaning London will always have a piece of Yayoi Kusuma’s work as part of its makeup. Given how many people have taken joy from her numerous vibrant projects, this seems all the more fitting.
Speaking on the design, Yayoi Kusama said: “London is a massive metropolis with people of all cultures moving constantly. The spheres symbolise unique personalities while the supporting curvilinear lines allow us to imagine an underpinning social structure.”
Find Infinite Accumulation outside the Elizabeth line entrance to Liverpool Street station.