In the heart of London, where cultures converge and lives intertwine, a new beacon of creativity now stands sentinel. On August 7, Yayoi Kusama, the legendary Japanese artist known for her immersive, surreal works, unveiled her first permanent public sculpture in the United Kingdom. Situated at the entrance of Liverpool Street Station, Infinite Accumulation is not just a work of art; it’s a statement—one of reflection, connection, and the infinite complexities of urban life.
The sculpture, a towering network of reflective silver spheres, stretches over 32 feet high, 39 feet wide, and extends more than 328 feet in length. It is Kusama’s largest public artwork to date, a fitting addition to London’s bustling cityscape. Commissioned by The Crossrail Art Foundation as part of their public art program in 2017, the work was brought to life through the collaboration of Transport for London, the real estate investment trust British Land, and the City of London Corporation.
Infinite Accumulation evokes a sense of wonder and contemplation. Kusama, in her signature style, has transformed ordinary space into a place of introspection. “London is a massive metropolis with people of all cultures moving constantly. The spheres symbolize unique personalities while the supporting curvilinear lines allow us to imagine an underpinning social structure,” Kusama noted in a press release. The mirrored surfaces of the sculpture echo the immersive experience of her earlier installation, Narcissus Garden, inviting passersby to see themselves as part of the collective, a momentary reflection in the constant flow of life.
This new work marks the final installation by the Crossrail Art Programme, capping off a series of art commissions for the Elizabeth line, London’s east-west railway which opened in May 2022. Alongside Kusama’s work, the program has seen the creation of other significant pieces, including Douglas Gordon’s video installation undergroundoverheard at Tottenham Court Road, Chantal Joffe’s mixed-media work A Sunday Afternoon in Whitechapel, and Conrad Shawcross’s bronze sculpture Manifold (Major Third) 5:4 at Moorgate.
The unveiling of Infinite Accumulation comes on the heels of another Kusama sculpture recently installed at Kensington Gardens, a vibrant, polka-dotted pumpkin that stands as a playful contrast to the more introspective nature of her Liverpool Street installation.
In a city defined by its relentless pace, Kusama’s work offers a moment of pause, a mirror to our shared humanity, infinitely accumulating in the reflections of those who pass by.
