M+ Lars Nittve Keynote Lecture Series:
From Yayoi Kusama’s Art to Our Wellbeing—A Talk by Mami Kataoka
M+ Lars Nittve Keynote Lecture Series:
From Yayoi Kusama’s Art to Our Wellbeing—A Talk by Mami Kataoka
How can art change our state of mind and help us move forward through challenging times?
For artist Yayoi Kusama, creating art is a process of healing in which she self-obliterates to search for a sense of liberation. She 'creates art for the healing of all mankind' by spreading messages of love and connecting others with the universe.
The pandemic has impacted our lives throughout the past years. As we continue to process its aftermath, the concept of healing has evermore become relevant. Join this talk by Mami Kataoka, Director of Mori Art Museum, Tokyo and hear her view on the connection between art and well-being through Kusama’s practice and philosophy. Looking at the themes in Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now and works by artists who have addressed topics such as modern-day anxiety through their distinctive voices and visual language, Kataoka will further reflect on the necessity of art in our lives.
This free talk, held in English, will be moderated by M+ Deputy Director, Curatorial, and Chief Curator Doryun Chong. It will be livestreamed via this page, Facebook, and YouTube. Simultaneous interpretation in Cantonese and Mandarin will be available. Click on ‘Register’ to sign up.
Supported by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Hong Kong, this event is part of the ‘M+ Lars Nittve Keynote Lecture Series’, which invites renowned artists and scholars to share insights on broader cultural ideas and topics.
About the Speaker
Mami Kataoka, Director of Mori Art Museum, joined the organisation in 2003. She is also the Director of the National Center for Art Research since 2023. Beyond Tokyo, Kataoka was previously the first International Curator at the Hayward Gallery in London (2007–2009). She has also acted as Co-Artistic Director for the 9th Gwangju Biennale (2012), Artistic Director for the 21st Biennale of Sydney (2018), and Artistic Director for the Aichi Triennale 2022. Kataoka served as a board member (2014–2020) and President (2020–2022) of International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art.
Portrait of Mami Kataoka. Photo: Ito Akinori
Related Exhibition
Image at top: Installation view of Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now, 2022. Photo: Lok Cheng, M+, Hong Kong