Yayoi Kusama's Obliteration Room | TateShots

Artist Yayoi Kusama's interactive Obliteration Room begins as an entirely white space, furnished as a monochrome living room, which people are then invited to 'obliterate' with multi-coloured stickers.

Over the course of a few weeks the room was transformed from a blank canvas into an explosion of colour, with thousands of spots stuck over every available surface.

TateShots produced this time-lapse video of the Obliteration Room covering the first few weeks of its presentation at Tate Modern in 2012. It was first conceived as a project for children, and was first staged at the Queensland Art Gallery in 2002.

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[Tate]

Yayoi Kusama's interactive Obliteration Room begins as an entirely white space, furnished as a monochrome living room, which people are then invited to 'obliterate' with multi-coloured stickers. 

[boink]

I see this as the blank canvas of life. Everyone is invited to leave their mark show thier talent and individuality, their unique creativity. The problem is that the world is filled with so many people, so many colors, so many little stickers. And here the artist is saying "you have one chance, how will you stand out?"

[ChrisMinusHumour]

I am 26 and feel very ignorant of art. I feel like I was funneled into a scientific background. Art was not really an avenue for my family or at my school but I find it very interesting. I am now on a self learning journey and this channel is part of that.

[Tate]

In answer to those that asked, Nick shot this on a Canon 5d, taking more than 14, 500 stills over 14 days (and also reading three books in the process).

[irememberla]

Love when art allows the spectator to participate in the creative process! Love you Yayoi

[IvanPugaNeira]

I had the opportunity to visit this room and the other Kusama's exposition in Chile. And I achieved to identify myself by that obsesion for colours and dots. It was so fascinant. I'd visit it again if another chance would let me so. Very beauty.

[linalangemark]

I participated in one of these rooms maybe 4 or 5 years ago, right at the end of the exhibition. When all the dots had already been placed by visitors for weeks. But actually seeing the transformation from something that isn't really a anything, just white surfaces. To something where you can actually make out the curves of these surfaces easily. Gave me a completely different view of the exhibition. Really interesting.

[officiallyjz]

It's way too bright and it gives me a slight headache, but there is something so fascinating about her vision. If this is how she felt when she saw those visions of dots as a kid, she's immersed us into her personal experience. That's talent...

[wendypope]

I LOVE THIS Just like Antony Gormley says everyone should be involved not distanced from art . It's not a thing to be made apart from but be made a part of.

[kellie]

03:39 looks like it was painted.  Very cool project.  I loved watching the children add their dots.

[polljk]

i think it speaks to the inherent artist within the average joe. suggesting the real art is finding a way to make something thought inspiring and original.

[Tate]

They did cover Nick's camera twice actually...

[bettinarossi]

I love that this amazing event was open to children as well.🙂

[hoorayitsjackie]

I’m not sure why, but this got me a little teary eyed.

[haifait]

We are so lucky. Yayoi Kusama retrospective now in Tel Aviv. Israel

[RichardHernandez-pzbt]

It's interesting how most people go directly for the wall first lol I wonder how many people decided to put dots under the furniture where no one would see their artwork xD I know I would have made my pattern under the desk drawer and maybe even under the couch, maybe a smiley face or my name

[Weirdkauz]

This art may really live, move, grow ... forever.

[avivyoukerharel]

I love the collective effort to decorate around the security guard 3:05

[shjh]

I'd be honored to meet Yayoi! I'm coming to Toronto soon and I happen to catch this installment when I'm there.

[blondutahguy]

MOAR spots on the couch and ground, please! Feels so incomplete!