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The renowned yellow pumpkin sculpture by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has been reinstalled on Naoshima Island after being swept into the sea and severely damaged during a typhoon last summer.
Local residents, students, and officials came together to celebrate the return of this iconic sculpture, which has been a trademark of the art island since 1994.
“Since the pumpkin was a symbol of Naoshima, it is great to see the same artwork installed again at the same spot. We are happy to share the joy with residents in Naoshima,” said Yukari Stenlund, a spokeswoman from Benesse Holdings, the company that manages the sculpture and the rest of the island’s art offerings, told CNN Travel.
The two-meter-tall, 2.5-meter-wide pumpkin sculpture, made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic, was swept away and broken into three pieces during the typhoon in August 2021.
Kusama’s production team decided to create a new yellow pumpkin sculpture while preserving the original design. The new sculpture has a 10% thicker outer shell to withstand strong waves and wind, and it is equipped with a hook in its stem for easy retrieval in case of another typhoon.
Naoshima is a serene island with 3,200 residents, located in the Setouchi Sea, north of Shikoku. With its three modern and contemporary art museums, it has earned the reputation of being an “art island.” The yellow pumpkin, standing out against the blue sea, has long been a popular subject for Instagram photos.
The primary access to the island is a 20-minute ferry ride from Okayama city, which is conveniently located 50 minutes away by bullet train from Osaka.
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