Anita W.
Yelp
Came here this past weekend to see Yayoi Kusama's 'Festival of Life' exhibit with a friend. Reading how the gallery opens at 10am, our plan was to get there right at opening to avoid the long crowds. Of course, everyone else had the same idea, too! When we arrived, the line wrapped around the entire block and there was a line usher directing everyone on line. He estimated that in the position we were in, it would take about 4-5 hours. In the end, it took 4 hours. When people asked the line attendant what time people would come here to wait on line, he responded that he arrives to work at around 8am and there's already a line down the block, but he doesn't know exactly what time the line started forming.
A few groups of people left the line after 15-20 minutes or so of waiting so that was good news for us behind them. Most of the time spent waiting was in the shade and even though it was forecasted to be in the mid 50's that day, it was still freezing. Make sure to bundle up, especially your extremities!
Tips:
- bring a friend or two! - conversation definitely helps pass the time and the fact that you two can switch on and off in line greatly helps in case one of you needed a bathroom break or wanted to go get some coffee or drinks for the group. There aren't too many cafes in the area but there's a few places down 10th avenue by the High Line.
- Bundle up - bring hates, scarves, gloves, etc. I definitely regretted not dressing warmer.
What to expect when you enter: (may contain SPOILERS)
- They let flows of people in of around 10 people. Once you finally get in the lobby area, there's a line of benches against the wall and you slowly move down.
- For the first room that's like an infinity room with mirrors on all sides, they count up to 6-7 people to go in at a time. Then you get about 1 minute inside to take pictures, and "ohh" and "ahh" over the exhibit. They do keep track of time and ask you to leave after time's up.
- Then you wait in line and put on these plastic shoe covers to protect the floors of the final exhibit. But before the final exhibit, you wait in line again for the 2nd exhibit. Here you get to look through window and see this color changing "infinity" box. You get to peak through and watch the colors change for 30 minutes.
- After the workers direct you to the final room that's full of polka dots and three giant tulips. There isn't exactly a time limit in here and people stay for about 5 minutes and leave after snapping a few shots.
Suggestion:
- I know this is a gallery, and long lines help attract visitors and start the conversation with passersby, but as my friend and I were waiting, we were discussing how it'd be great if they could implement some system similar to Fast Passes at Disney. For example, when you arrive, you grab a ticket or "sign in" or something and they will tell you a time to come back. This could definitely decrease the long wait period and allow you to run some errands in the meantime and not waste time.
This overall experience was very different than the one I had when I came here for a similar infinity room exhibit 4 years ago - Kusama's 'I Who Have Arrived in Heaven'. I think I enjoyed that one more than the recent one. We were allowed to go in the infinity room alone, which looked like a galaxy with lights all around, however this does mean a longer waiting time (I waited for about 6 hours then).
