Immersed in Art and Dumplings

A few days ago I checked out a rather nifty little exhibition in London.

Yayoi Kusama has taken over the Miro Victoria gallery and it is marvelous!

As soon as you go in, nip up the stairs to your right and check out the pumpkins.

Born on 22 March 1929 in Matsumoto City, Kusama grew up in a family who made their living by cultivating seeds, and as such she has a fascination with the natural world.

She identifies with pumpkins especially and admires their unique forms.

“‘Pumpkin head’ was an epithet used to disparage ugly, ignorant men, and the phrase ‘Put eyes and a nose on a pumpkin’ evoked a pudgy and unattractive woman. It seems that pumpkins do not inspire much respect. But I was enchanted by their charming and winsome form. What appealed to me most was the pumpkin’s generous unpretentiousness. That and its solid spiritual base” (Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Net: The Autobiography of Yayoi Kusama

You’ll find brass pumpkins in various sizes throughout the gallery, but behind this door is where the fun really begins…

A girl with a stopwatch guards the room and make sure no-one overstays their welcome.

Inside, there’s magic.

“All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins” 2016 Yayoi Kusama

A patent black floor, littered with glowing, polka dot pumpkins, surrounded on all sides by highly polished mirrors.

Check out this video…

“All the eternal love I have for pumpkins” Yayoi Kusama 2016 🎃 #yayoikusama

A video posted by Rosie Londoner (@rosielondoner) on Jun 3, 2016 at 4:19am PDT

Pumpkins for as far as the eye can see!

You get the room to yourself for 30seconds to a minute, depending how busy the gallery is.

It’s more than enough time to feel fully immersed in the world of Kusama.

Downstairs you’ll find “Chandelier of Grief”, 2016

Another mirror room, with a twirling chandelier reflected through mirrors and glass.

There’s more room to walk around in this one, and it can feel as though you’re waltzing through a dream.

Keep going and waltz right out into the garden.

“Narcissus Garden” 1966

You’ll notice a glittering cube on the deck.

Duck and climb inside.

You’ll find yourself inside “Where the Lights in My Heart Go”, 2016

And come on, you are in the Narcissus Garden, where better to take an epic selfie?!

If you keep strolling on to the edge of the garden, you’ll find a staircase…

…no, not that one.

Keep going and climb all the way to the top.

Blue blazer // Sparkler necklace

Silk shirt (also in white) // Skinny jeans

Silk slipper flats // Bucket bag

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Upstairs you’ll find Kusama’s paintings.

Which are just as irresistible as the rest of her work!

The gallery can get seriously busy, especially on weekends so go as early as you can.

16 Wharf Road London N1 7RW | Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 6pm (last entry at 5.30pm)

It’s free to get in and you can take as many pictures as you like!

You have until July 30th, so no excuses.

When you’re done, walk over to Upper Street for brunch.

Chinese Laundry do brunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and you’ll love it!

An unassuming little place, with pots of tea on the counter and signs we couldn’t understand on the walls.

We took up a table in the front and started with silver needle jasmine tea.

In thimbles.

Retro sunnies

Silver May Love Bangles // Silver May Sparkler necklace (an earlier version)

Before marching on to everything else on offer.

Crispy scallion pancake with bacon and egg.

“Pancake” really doesn’t do this justice, it’s so much more than that. A heartier consistency, packed full of flavour, almost like a cross between a flat bread and a pancake, with attitude!

Stuffed with a fried egg – complete with oozing yolk, crispy bacon and fragrant hot sauce.

Giant steamed bun stuffed with slow cooked pork belly.

Steamed on top of pine needles and stuffed with the most tender meat and spectacular sauce.

Only slightly outdone by the dumpling stir fry.

Crispy dumplings fried with garlic, bacon, peanuts and homemade red pepper sauce.

So . good .

And finally shrimp cake benedict.

Also ruddy fantastic!

It’s well worth taking a group and sharing everything, that way you get to try more.

They’re open for brunch on the aforementioned days and dinner from Tues-Sat. You can book for supper, and find all the nitty gritty details on their website.