The installation first debuted in 1966 at the 33rd Venice Biennale—an unofficial and rather controversial showcase, as Kusama installed 1,500 reflective spheres on the grass without permission. She sold each sphere for 1,200 Lira (around 2 USD at the time) while dressed in a sash that read: 'Your Narcissism for Sale.' This bold exhibition invited viewers to confront their own reflections and question the role of narcissism in the commercialization of art.
I took these photos at the Crystal Bridges museum where the spheres were scattered across a reflective pond, referencing the Greek myth of Narcissus who fell in love with his own reflection.
