We finally visited the Victoria Miro Gallery in Islington yesterday after hearing such great things about it. I feel so lucky to have this so close to where I live in London and I am starting to make more of an effort to do some more cultural adventures every week, even with baby Violet in tow. They are showing a major exhibition by Female Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama that spans across the whole gallery and into the gardens. Pumpkin sculptures and immersive mirror rooms make this a really fun exhibition to take your little ones to (although they will be closely watched!) and I can't recommend it enough. Here are our pics from the day...
The first mirrored box room (located upstairs) is called 'All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins'. You have to queue as its only one or two people in at a time and you get just under a minute in there (they time you). This was our favourite room, Violets little baby mind was blown away and she didn't know what was going on! The beautiful warm glow of the pumpkins and refections were breath taking! It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it, there is something awe inspiring and emotional that comes out of you in that room.
Whilst you queue up for the pumpkin room you can see the mirror polished bronze pumpkin sculptures on display in the beautiful gallery space with its exposed beam ceilings. This little girl was finding it hard not to touch them much to a gallery workers frustrations at continually telling her to stand back from them!
Downstairs in the main entrance is another box room that contains this 'Chandelier of Grief' installation. This stunning room is filled with mirrors and chandeliers with cosmic sparkly lights, you almost don't know which way to look! We loved it so much we went in twice!
Out in the garden is a beautiful water garden filled with aluminium steel balls on the water. There was another box (called 'Where the Lights in my Heart Go') to stand in but unfortunately it was closed that morning, will have to go back to see it! There are seats along the side and its pretty and peaceful out there, time to take a moment and reflect!
They also had this mirrored steps sculpture in the garden which was fun, I don't think its part of the exhibition though.
Finally upstairs from the garden is the rest of the gallery (there is a lift if you need it) and this had the new polka dot paintings in it. It's an incredible space with great light and immense views out over London. The paintings are heavily patterned and dense, apparently to do with her hallucinations first experienced in childhood.
The exhibition is on until 30th July. Please go see it if you can, I can't recommend it enough!
Victoria Miro Gallery, open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 6pm. Free Entry
16 Wharf Road
London N1 7RW
t: 44 (0)20 7336 8109
Angel or Old Street tube (Northern Line)
Buses 43, 214 and 394 stop on City Road