Pumpkin 1983

Editor: This is Yayoi Kusama’s "Pumpkin" from 1983, made of ceramic. The cheerful yellow, covered in dots, almost hides the strange form. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious? Curator: Kusama’s pumpkins are so much more than just decorative gourds. In examining this work, it is important to reflect on the artist's deeply personal connection to them. Kusama has spoken of pumpkins as a source of comfort and stability since childhood, seeing in their humble form a sense of groundedness, of self. This seemingly simple sculpture invites us to consider questions around identity, repetition, and the subconscious, filtered through her lifelong struggles with mental health. Does the polka dot pattern remind you of anything? Editor: I suppose the all-consuming aspect of polka dots has something to do with her mental health problems? Curator: Exactly. Her obsessive use of polka dots is both a symptom and a strategy. They represent a way for her to confront and dissolve her anxieties. So in viewing this sculpture, we have to consider Kusama's artistic practice as an act of resistance against societal norms and expectations. Also, her interest in expanding these ideas of self into questions about women, race, class, and global politics. What would you say? Editor: So the pumpkin is an invitation to question not just our perceptions of form, but also our societal structures? I didn’t expect that. Curator: Indeed! The vibrant color and playful form also belie the deeper socio-political undercurrents within Kusama's broader body of work. Thinking about her performance pieces in the ‘60s protesting the Vietnam War is really enlightening when approaching any of her later artworks. Editor: That puts a whole new spin on pumpkins. Thanks!