Adele's 2016 Brit Awards Performance in Kusama's Installation Recalled After Artist's Death
Adele's 2016 Brit Awards performance of "When We Were Young" took place inside Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room installation. Kusama, who died earlier this month at 97, was a pioneering avant-garde artist. Adele said the room allowed her to see different versions of herself, which influenced the performance.
The installation, titled "The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away," was on display at the Broad museum in Los Angeles when Adele visited it in 2016. She spent roughly an hour inside the mirrored space, which uses glass and light to create an illusion of infinite depth.
Kusama's official statement noted she continued creating art until her final days, working across visual art, performance, fiction, and poetry. Adele described the experience as revealing unseen aspects of herself, which she channeled into her Brit Awards rendition of the nostalgic track.
This story connects a pop culture moment to the legacy of a pioneering artist, potentially introducing Kusama's work to younger audiences who may not have known her. The intersection of music and visual art could inspire renewed interest in immersive installations and their role in live performances. Fans of Adele may now seek out Kusama's exhibitions, while art enthusiasts might revisit the 2016 performance as a meaningful tribute to the late artist's influence.