"Almost 500,000 people have visited the exhibition of celebrated Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama at the National Gallery of Victoria – a record number for any ticketed art show in the country.
The exhibition by the 96-year-old Japanese artist is the most popular ticketed art exhibition in Australian history, the Allan government said on Sunday.
Premier Jacinta Allan said it had brought “five MCGs’ worth of visitors to the heart of Melbourne”.
She declined to reveal how much her government had paid to host the exhibition, citing commercial-in-confidence restrictions as part of the government’s contract. A report on the revenue generated by the exhibition is expected later this year.
NGV director Tony Ellwood said the attendance figures had exceeded expectations, and the gallery would extend its opening hours this week to encourage final visitors.
“When we set out to do this exhibition, we had no idea it was going to be this well received,” Ellwood said.
“The other great message here is that we can see Australians love contemporary art, particularly here in Victoria.”"
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition at the NGV has drawn huge numbers of people during its four-month run.