Yayoi Kusama’s signature dot motif has most definitely hit the spot: Last week, the reclusive artist celebrated both a highly anticipated collaboration with Louis Vuitton and the opening of a major retrospective at the Whitney (and just in case you missed it the first time, Arthur Lubow’s story from our June issue is a must-read). Still, most people have yet to discover the third act in her artistic trifecta: Kusama’s exuberant outdoor installation in collaboration with the Hudson River Park Trust and Gagosian Gallery.
Guidepost to the New Space (2004) is fittingly located at Pier 45 of Hudson River Park, just a stone’s throw from the Whitney’s future home in the Meatpacking District, making it a perfect homage to both summer in the city and the increasingly playful spirit of the neighborhood. By utilizing a plethora of abstract sculptural objects—each adorned with the artist’s signature white and red polka dots—the installation transforms the patch of green overlooking the Hudson into an iconic Kusama fantasy that’s also the perfect backdrop for a lively summer picnic. (Through the end of the summer; whitney.org)
Photo: courtesy of the Whitney Museum of American Art