Dots for Love and Peace 2009
Yayoi Kusama site specific public artwork animates City Gallery Wellington facade Dots for Love and Peace (2009), one of
only three temporary public art projects worldwide designed by iconic Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama, is currently
installed on the exterior architecture of City Gallery Wellington, New Zealand.
While City Gallery Wellington regularly showcases contemporary artworks by some of New Zealand and the world’s leading
artists, this is the first time the Gallery’s art deco heritage listed building has become the site for a temporary
site-specific public artwork.
Yayoi Kusama is widely respected as an extraordinarily innovative and singular artist, one whose prolific work over the
last five decades has influenced generations of artists and designers worldwide. Her signature dots are forever
inscribed on the face of contemporary art. “Dots for Love and Peace (2009) is an intense and unexpected public artwork,
and reflects Kusama’s obsessive interest in repetition, pattern and colour” says Gallery director Paula Savage. “Blue,
yellow, orange, pink, red and green dots in a range of different sizes animate the facade of the building, adding a
sense of drama and playfulness to Civic Square.
Wellingtonians and visitors to the city alike are intrigued by this joyful work, and each day many passing through the
city’s public Square stop to capture photographs of themselves posing against the dots.”
The scale of the work is immense, covering the entire frontage of City Gallery Wellington. Working from the 1930’s
architectural drawings of the Gallery façade, Ms Kusama created a detailed plan for the public artwork, with exact
specifications of colour, size and placement of each individual dot.
“This work has provided a remarkable opportunity for City Gallery Wellington to reach out and connect with a general
public beyond the usual Gallery going public,” said Gallery director Paula Savage. “I first met with Ms Kusama at Kusama
Studio, Tokyo in 2004, beginning the process of negotiating to present her work in New Zealand. We were very excited
when the artist agreed to design a new public artwork specifically for the Gallery as well as two new sitespecific
installations Dots Obsession Day 2009 and Dots Obsession Night 2009. While Ms Savage’s relationship with Ms Kusama was
the genesis of the work, it was the generous investment and support of sponsors in New Zealand that enabled the Gallery
to realize Dots for Love and Peace (2009).
“Without the financial support of Hawkins Construction, and pro bono sponsorship from 3M and Sign Squad for the
manufacture and installation of the dots, this work simply wouldn’t have been possible,” said Ms Savage. “Due to the
scale, the conditions and the heritage listing of the Gallery building, we needed to carefully investigate new
technology, materials and installation methods to ensure there would be no damage to the building. Hawkins Construction
also organized the scaffolding which was erected across the front of the building for the three week installation
process. Luckily the weather favoured us. It was a mission but the final artwork continues to amaze and captivate all
who pass by. Kusama’s signature dots will be sorely missed at the end of the exhibition Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years.”
The public artwork coincides with the major three-venue exhibition Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years which closes at City
Gallery Wellington on 7 February 2010. Instigated by the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam and Le Consortium,
Dijon, it has travelled to the MCA, Sydney and City Gallery Wellington, and has been shaped and augmented for each
venue. For City Gallery Wellington three new works have been added, thanks to the generosity of the artist and Yayoi
Kusama Studio, Tokyo and Ota Fine Art Tokyo.
The exhibition has been curated by Jaap Guldemond (MBvB), Franck Gautherot and Seungduk Kim (Le Consortium), with
additional works added for Australasia by Judith Blackall (MCA) and Paula Savage (City Gallery Wellington). Dots for
Love and Peace (2009)
ENDS