Serpentine to unveil Yayoi Kusama's monumental pumpkin sculpture
New large-scale public artwork by renowned artist Yayoi Kusama to transform Kensington Gardens.
Digital rendering of Pumpkin, 2024, Β© YAYOI KUSAMA, Courtesy Ota Fine Arts, Victoria Miro, and David Zwirner.
Serpentine and The Royal Parks announce the unveiling of a significant new sculpture by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. The work, Pumpkin (2024), will be displayed by the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens from 9 July - 3 November 2024. This towering bronze sculpture, measuring 6 metres in height and 5.5 metres in diameter, marks Kusama's return to Serpentine, the site of her first British retrospective in 2000.
Kusama's Pumpkin (2024) reflects her enduring fascination with the pumpkin motif, a recurring theme in her art since 1946. The artist's connection to pumpkins is deeply personal, stemming from her childhood experiences growing up surrounded by fields of kabocha squash. Kusama's pumpkins, adorned with her iconic polka dot patterns, serve as whimsical yet profound self-portraits that celebrate the plant's resilience and unique form. This new installation continues to explore these themes, inviting viewers to engage with her work on both an aesthetic and emotional level.
This installation is part of Serpentine's long-standing tradition of bringing art into the public sphere, enhancing the natural landscape of Kensington Gardens. Over the years, Serpentine has presented a diverse array of public art projects, from Anish Kapoor's Turning the World Upside Down to Christo and Jeanne-Claude's London Mastaba. Kusama's Pumpkin (2024) continues this legacy, providing an opportunity for the public to experience art outside traditional gallery settings. Bettina Korek, CEO, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director of Serpentine, expressed their gratitude to The Royal Parks and supporters for making such innovative public art presentations possible.
