Adele's 2016 Brit Awards performance of 'When We Were Young' was inspired by her time spent in Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room installation.
Key facts
- •Adele spent an hour in the Infinity Mirrored Room at the Broad in Los Angeles in 2016.
- •The installation was created by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.
- •Kusama died in a Tokyo hospital at the age of 97.
- •Adele performed 'When We Were Young' at the 2016 Brit Awards at The O2 Arena.
- •Kusama's installation arrived at the Broad in 2015, two years after its creation.
In 2016, singer Adele spent an hour inside Yayoi Kusama’s art installation, Infinity Mirrored Room – The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, at the Broad museum in Los Angeles. The experience influenced her performance of the song “When We Were Young” at the 2016 Brit Awards. Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known for her avant-garde work, died earlier this month in Tokyo at the age of 97.
Artistic Inspiration
Adele stated in 2016 that the installation allowed her to see different versions of herself from every angle. She noted that the song “When We Were Young” reflects her life from childhood to the present, and that the hour spent in the mirrored room helped her notice new things about herself.
Kusama's Legacy
Yayoi Kusama’s career spanned visual art, performance, fiction, and poetry. In a 2015 interview with the Broad, Kusama explained that her work integrates philosophies regarding the eternity of inter-relationships, love for humanity, and a longing for world peace. According to a statement on her official website, she continued to paint until her final days.
Timeline
- 2013Yayoi Kusama created the Infinity Mirrored Room installation.
- 2015The installation arrived at the Broad museum in Los Angeles.
- February 24, 2016Adele performed 'When We Were Young' at the Brit Awards at The O2 Arena.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Rolling Stone.
