Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin” exhibit at Benesse Art Site Naoshima

Yayoi Kusama Pumpkin 2022 ©YAYOI KUSAMA Photo: Tadasu Yamamoto (Graphic: Benesse Art Site Naoshima)

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Benesse Art Site Naoshima announced that Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin”, the outdoor sculpture displayed at Benesse House Museum that had been damaged by Typhoon Lupit last August, had been newly created and exhibited at the same location as the original work on Oct 4, 2022.

This follows repeated discussions with all relevant parties, it said in a statement.

Kusama’s “Pumpkin” had been installed on an old pier jutting out into the sea, creating a scene unique to Naoshima that stands out against the blue sea and green trees in the background.

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the artist, Yayoi Kusama, and everyone else who was involved in the production and exhibition of this work, as well as to all fans and local residents who have been looking forward to the exhibit work,” said the Benesse Art Site Naoshima.

Moving forward, it will also be adopting more robust disaster prevention precautions for the management and protection of artwork under its care.

Yayoi Kusama's “Pumpkin” was first exhibited in 1994 as part of the “Out of Bounds” exhibition organised by Benesse House.

Since its opening in 1992, Benesse House has been holding the contemporary art exhibition. It aims to encourage visitors to become familiar with art in the Setouchi region's natural environment and inspire them to live true to their own unique way of life.

In “Seascape”, the outdoor works were displayed with the intention of harmonising or competing with the surrounding nature to create a new exhibition space.

Yayoi Kusama's “Pumpkin”, which has a particularly strong connection with the theme of “Seascape”, continued to be exhibited as one of the outdoor works of Benesse House Museum.

More details at https://benesse-artsite.jp/en/

-- BERNAMA