Circle Studies
painting-drawingAges 5-7Ages 8-12
Circles and circles and circles and more.
Endless spots and play inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s joyful art.
Introduction
The first time I saw Yayoi Kusama’s work in real life was at the inaugural NGV Triennial here in Melbourne in early 2018. Olive was only a few months old and I can still remember the rush of it all.
The installation I fell in love with was Flower Obsession. Visitors were invited to place red flower stickers on every surface until the room was completely covered. It was the first time I’d experienced an interactive gallery work that felt genuinely welcoming for children. It wasn’t about them, it was for them. That invitation to take part, to add your mark, to watch the space change with every person who stepped in… it opened my eyes to what was possible. When I opened Smudge, I knew we needed an installation space of our own. Somewhere art and play could overlap, where the work wasn’t finished until the hands of many had shaped it. This guide is a little window into that spirit, inspired by Kusama’s joy for dots, sculptures, and immersive wonder. My hope is that it helps you bring some of that magic into your own spaces too.
From Smudge to You
Below you'll find the collection of creative activities we've used to bring this theme to life at Smudge. Each one is an invitation to play, experiment, and see where the materials take you. Pick and choose what excites you and adapt them to your own space.
Circles and circles and circles and more.
Circles and circles and circles and more.
A colourful field of circles!
Cut, colour, dot, and stand them tall.
Yayoi and her pumpkins!
Start with a blank white space and let dot stickers slowly take it over!
Put your Yayoi-inspired portraits on show!