You no longer need to fly to Japan to see one of Yayoi Kusama’s famous pumpkins. Take a drive down to the western side of Mornington Peninsula, and visit Pt. Leo Estate. There, you’ll find a giant gourd made by the famous Japanese artist. The three-metre-wide piece was acquired by the Estate’s Sculpture Park, where it will be at home among 50 other mostly large-scale sculptures from around the world. These other sculptures include pieces from KAWS, Jaume Plensa, Inge King, Julian Opie and more. See the Yayoi Kusama pumpkin for yourself, against the backdrop of idyllic vineyards and impressive ocean views at Pt. Leo Estate, from Saturday November 25 onwards.
Yayoi Kusama pumpkin sculpture at Pt. Leo Estate
Kusama’s works have been celebrated among many major museums and galleries around the world, including The Museum of Modern Art (NYC), Guggenheim (Bilbao), TATE Modern (London) and more. Just last year, one of her kaleidoscopic pieces was a part of ACMI’s stunning winter exhibition. And now, one of her famous pumpkins has found a home in Melbourne.
This red and black pumpkin is the first major pumpkin sculpture to be seen in Australia. Pumpkins are one of Kusama’s most well-known motifs, as they remind her of her childhood days living on a farm.
“I love pumpkins, because of their humorous form, warm feeling and a human-like quality and form,” she once explained in 2015.
At three-metres-wide, the sculpture at Pt. Leo Estate is much larger than her famous yellow and black pumpkin at Naoshima, which was swept out to sea in 2021 and later retrieved and remade.
The red and black sculpture was created in bronze, mosaic and stainless steel.
“I am very pleased to showcase my work in such a wonderful place,” said Kusama. “The magical fusion of nature and my work is something special that can only be seen in each location.”
After admiring the pumpkin, take a stroll around the 330 acres of landscaped grounds and admire other contemporary pieces around the outdoor gallery. After that, grab a casual bite from the Wine Terrace, or book yourself in for an impeccable culinary experience at their hatted restaurant, Laura, or their main dining space, Pt. Leo Estate Restaurant.
The Sculpture Park is open daily from 11am to 5pm.