Yayoi Kusama Dazzling Pumpkin 2016

FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) & Tile 146.1 × 142.2 × 134.6 cm

This "Starry Pumpkin, 2016" is a three-dimensional work that develops Yayoi Kusama's signature motif of a pumpkin in a more "cosmic" and "sparkling" direction.

For Kusama, pumpkins are not merely cute shapes but special beings that have been a source of comfort since childhood. Kusama's pumpkins are rooted in her childhood memories, and are seen as humble and humorous presences for her, often appearing as substitutes for her self-portraits. In other words, it is easier to understand this work's pumpkin not as a still life, but as a "vessel" that captures Kusama's own emotions and presence.

The "Starry" in the title of this work emphasizes the impression of "sparkling like stars" and "reminiscent of the cosmos." While repetitive dots and patterns are important in Kusama's work, if we consider that Kusama imagined an "infinite universe" through her repeated small brushstrokes and dots, then "Starry Pumpkin" is a work that overlays a cosmic sense of infinity onto the intimate and organic form of a pumpkin.

The fascination of it being "tiles" rather than polka dots

The fact that the material of this work is tiles is very important. Many of Kusama's representative works feature black polka-dotted pumpkins, but in "Starry Pumpkin," the surface reflects light more, creating a sense of particles gathering to form an image. In other words, rather than polka dots being directly depicted here, they seem to be transformed into star-like particles, a collection of light, or a mosaic-like skin. The combination of the title and the material elevates this work from being just a "cute pumpkin" to an existence like a luminous cosmic body.

If we associate Kusama's polka dots with the cosmos, where each individual is assimilated into a larger cosmic element, then in "Starry Pumpkin," we can say that we are not just looking at "the surface pattern of a pumpkin," but at a living organism opening up to the cosmos. The "proliferation," "repetition," and "endlessness" often found in Kusama's works are indeed present in this three-dimensional piece.

Since this work is approximately 146cm tall, it is better suited to be viewed by walking around it rather than looking at it from the front like a painting. This is because the rounded form, the undulations of the ridges, the reflection of the tiles, and the rhythm of the surface change with each viewing angle. M+ also states that Kusama's pumpkins are not all the same symbol, but each has a different shape and personality. In other words, while this work is a "classic Kusama motif," it is important to view it not as a mass-produced repetition, but as a unique individual with its own personality.

"Starry Pumpkin, 2016" is a work that overlays the image of stars, infinity, and the cosmos onto Yayoi Kusama's intimate self-image of a "pumpkin." Despite its soft and approachable form, as you look at it, your sense of scale shifts, and you are led from personal emotion to cosmic expansiveness. I believe that this coexistence of "cuteness" and "endlessness" is the charm of this work.