About the Exhibition

The Yayoi Kasuma Infinite Mirrors exhibition is a combination of sculpture, paint, and light installations. What makes it unique are the small spaces that guests enter one at a time. Without giving much away, these installations are a mix of lighting, sculpture, and of course, mirrors.

Each installation has a unique combination of lighting and sculpture. Upon entering the small rooms, you’re taken to another dimension of light and color. One of the rooms had pitch black mirrors and hundreds of tiny hanging lights another was filled with blown glass pumpkins. One guest summed it up perfectly as she departed one of the installation rooms: “it’s like being at the edge of a precipice”.

Things to Know

Although the exhibition is free, you need tickets ahead of time. You can sign up for tickets here. Tickets open every week, so put an alert on your calendar! There are same day tickets available, but those are first come, first serve. If looking for same day tickets, the Hirshhorn Museum staff recommends that Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are the best time to come as it is less busy. Guests enter each installation room one at a time (or you can bring a friend) for 30 seconds. It goes by really fast so I highly recommend you have your camera settings ready upon entering!

Yayoi Kasuma Infinite Mirrors: The Verdict

Although it may take a bit to get tickets, make sure to add this exhibition to your list of things to do in DC! It’s a surreal experience!

Hirshhorn Museum of Art & Sculpture. Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024, Website 

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1. Schloss Belvedere: When it comes to museums in Vienna, The Belvedere has a special place in my heart. It’s not only my favorite museum in Vienna but will dare to say my favorite museum in the world. I just can’t get enough of the place. Tip: the complex is quite large, make sure to plan at least a half a day to discover both palaces and the orangery.  When you enter the Upper Belvedere, you take in the majestic feel of a former imperial palaces. The ceilings are high, held by marble pillars, and lit with glorious crystal chandeliers.  In my opinion, the highlights of the Upper Belvedere are the works of Austrian artists Klimt and Schiele. It is not surprising to be taken by the beauty of Klimt’s masterpiece, “The Kiss” but my favorite painting of Klimt is Judith, there is something about the raw sexuality of his subject. (Would have loved to share a photo but photos are not allowed on this part of the museum).  However, my favorite painting at the museum is “The Embrace” by Egon Schiele. You can truly see the emotion of a lovers embrace through this work of art.

My most recent visit was this past January where it was cold but in warmer weather, make time to have a picnic at the garden and visit the Orangery. However, if you want to stay warm and take a break from the beautiful art, head to the cafe at The Belvedere.  You can have a decadent Sacher torte or a nice glass of Gruner Veltliner in the beautiful salon with beautiful chandeliers and art. Tip: In the high season admission lines can be quite long. You can buy your ticket online. 

2. Leopold Museum: As I mentioned previously, I am a big fan of Klimt and Schiele and the Leopold Museum has the largest Schiele collection in the world.  From paintings of his earlier years to photographs of the artist, his spirit is live and well in the museum. You can get a glimpse of the history of the artist. It is easy to get lost in this large museum filled with not only turn of the 20th century Austrian art but also visiting collections of modern art and sculpture.

3. Museum Hundertwasser (Kunst Haus Wien):  Getting to the Hundertwasser Museum is a 30-minute journey in tram from the city center. As you leave the streets lined with museums and theaters, you take a glimpse of real Viennese life. As you walk by an unassuming neighborhood, you encounter this confusing, colorful structure, sandwiched by two average residential buildings.

In a city that is surrounded by classic buildings and art, this structure brings a pop of color to the city not only in its facade but also with the art work of the Austrian Artist, Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Contrary to works from centuries ago in the other museums inVienna, you can still feel the life of the artist in the walls and spirit of the museum (he died in 2000).  The art space is small compared other museums but it is worth the visit with its unique take on art and architecture. Not to miss: the museum has a vegetarian cafe with organic desserts. 

4. Kunst Historisches Museum (Historic Art Museum):  Take a trip in time at this museum.  One of our regrets is that we did not dedicate enough time in our agenda to this place. We had two hours and were pretty much kicked out at closing time.  During our visit to the museum, a temporary exhibition of Diego Velazquez was taking place.  With works from El Prado to The National Gallery, it was an impressive collection to witness in the grand setting of the museum.

During our express walk throughout the museum, we could not help to stop and observe all the artifacts from the Egyptian Collection of the museum. From the coffins sitting in the darkness of the room, it made me imagine what would it have been like to live in the times of the Pharaohs. Tip: You can get discounted tickets at the museum with a Vienna card.  

5. Schloss Schonbrunn:  Although technically not a museum, there is plenty of culture at the Schloss Schonbrunn to experience. Another former imperial palace, it gives you a glimpse of life during the time of Sisi (Empress Elisabeth of Austria) as you can tour the rooms of the palace, kept in the same decor of the 19th century, the grand era of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although I did not have the opportunity to go to Schonbrunn during this visit, I did have the opportunity to take a guided tour in 2010 and automatically became intrigued with the history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is a must see, especially in the summer as you can explore its many beautiful gardens.

Although this post only highlights five museums, there are plenty more to see in the city, such as the Museum of Natural History, The Hofburg Palace, The Albertina, and plenty more to discover in Vienna. For a comprehensive list of the 100+ museums in Vienna, check out the Vienna Tourism website.  I wish I would’ve had more time to experience more museums in Vienna, but it gives me an incentive to return.  Tip: book ahead, research which collections appeal to you and set enough time to experience them, and don’t forget to have a coffee or a glass of wine at the lovely museum cafes. 

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As the opening activity at TBEX Travel Blogger conference in Cancun, we were welcomed with the “Xcaret Mexico Espectacular” show at Xcaret Park. Xcaret is a huge theme park located in the Riviera Maya south of Cancun.  As we entered the park, we were a little apprehensive since it seemed a little too touristy with its rows of tour buses, large gift shop, and the scent of popcorn. As we were seated in the stadium-like venue, we did not know what to expect.

Soon, the lights dimmed and we were taken into quite the show. I have always been fascinated by Mexican culture as I find it so diverse and rich in history. The Mexico Espectacular show gave the audience a glimpse into this rich history, from pre-Hispanic times to modern-day song and dance. The show includes more than 300 actors and costumes ranging from the indigenous Mayan dress to the modern day Mariachi.  The show began with a traditional Mayan ball game, with players making moves almost synonymous to modern day soccer.  After various scenes of indigenous games, the show transitions into the arrival of the Spaniards, depicting the war between the Indians and the Spanish to the subsequent conquest of the land and conversion to Catholicism. This part of show is marked with the symbolic scene of the beheading of indigenous gods being replaced by crosses.

From there, the show moved to different music, costumes, and songs from the diverse states of Mexico. It enchanted us with the beautiful white dresses of Veracruz and it got us up and dancing to the nortenas of Chihuahua. Every costume was beautifully made with an amazing amount of detail. All of the dancers brought a genuine energy to the stage.

For those who are fans of culture, as I am, I highly recommend this show during your stay in the Riviera Maya. The show also has a dinner option, which is what we had with the TBEX group with a delicious three course menu.  We enjoyed a corn soup, a chicken with green salsa, and flan for dessert.  Afterwards, we had lovely margaritas in the beautiful hacienda courtyard. It was the perfect way to start our adventure in Mexico. 

Disclaimer: This trip was a sponsored trip by Xcaret via TBEX Travel Blogger Conference. As always, I only write about things I love!

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The passageway leading to the courtyard

As we entered the museum, we loved the warm intimate space. The ceilings are high, there is plenty of light for the exhibitions, and it’s small enough not to overwhelm.  We first studied the first exhibition “Femininity Beyond Archetypes” which challenged many of the views about the female form in our society.  The Colombian photographer Natalia Arias interprets historical views of women in her modern photographs. She depicts classic stereotypes such as the “Madonna” in her photographs which women in every culture can relate to.

One of the works of Natalia Arias

We moved on to the second exhibition, “Small Guide to Homeownership” by Mexican photographer Alejandro Cartagena.  The photographs we were most fascinated by is “The Carpoolers”.   It’s a series of photographs of day day laborers along Monterrey Highway 85.  I admired how the photographer captured the color, diversity, and sentiment of the men.

The fountain at the courtyard

Last but not least, we worked our way to the courtyard via the deep blue tiled walls and Aztec wall sculptures of the inner patio of the museum. The courtyard is as impressive as the interior with a gorgeous space, a serene fountain which seemed to transport me to Mexico in midst of the chaos of a Sunday in Washington, DC.

The Outdoor Garden

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