Enchanting Pumpkins

Enchanting Pumpkins: Dancing Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama in the New York Botanical Garden. This powerful pumpkin bronze sculpture, painted in black and yellow, is sixteen feet tall and envelops visitors. It is a highlight of the Kusama: Cosmic Nature exhibit showcasing the work of the 92 year old Yayoi Kusama and highlighting her lifelong fascination with nature. Dancing Pumpkin is one of four works created for and debuting at the exhibit. PHOTO; ANGROVE — *Dancing Pumpkin* by Yayoi Kusama in the New York Botanical Garden. This powerful pumpkin bronze sculpture, painted in black and yellow, is sixteen feet tall and envelops visitors. It is a highlight of the Kusama: Cosmic Nature exhibit showcasing the work of the 92 year old Yayoi Kusama and highlighting her lifelong fascination with nature. Dancing Pumpkin is one of four works created for and debuting at the exhibit.

Beyond the Pumpkin Patch

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama‘s enchanting pumpkins are a highlight for New York Botanical Garden’s visitors to Kusama: Cosmic Nature this pumpkin season.

Across the grounds and set among trees, reflected in pools and wetland Kusama’s extraordinary work is stunning in this natural setting with real pumpkins and massed mums highlighting the changing seasons across the landscape. This is the first time Kusama’s work has been presented extensively in both gardens and in galleries and it explores her profound connection with nature.

Kusama was born in 1929 in Masumoto, Japan, where her family managed seed nurseries and had extensive landholdings. She was awed, as a child, by a pumpkin she found growing in a tangle of flowers. This inspired her to draw pumpkins at elementary school and lead to a lifelong fascination with nature.

Now at age 92 Kusama continues to be prolific and her work fetches the highest price of any living female artist.

Enchanting Pumpkins: Trees wrapped in printed polyester fabric line pathways in the Botanical Garden. This installation art titled, Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees belongs to the artist. It brings a feeling of another world , the trees almost seem to dance. PHOTO; ANGROVE — Trees wrapped in bright printed polyester fabric march along pathways in the New York Botanical Garden. This installation *Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees*, belongs to the artist. There is a feel of otherworldliness, the trees almost seem to come alive and dance.

Kusama: Cosmic Nature

This large exhibit, set across the 250-acre landscape of the New York Botanical Gardens, traces Kusama’s lifelong fascination with the natural world rooted in her childhood. It also traces her long and prolific career. Kusama was fascinated by American abstract impressionism, and moved to New York in 1958. She was involved in the colorful days of sixties avant-garde and New York City counterculture and “happenings”.

During the last 40 years she has been mostly away from the international art scene and her work has focused back towards nature and the cosmos, passions which inspired her in the beginning.

Enchanting Pumpkins: My Soul Blooms Forever, 2019. Five larger than life flowers in the reflecting pool. The flowers are stunning set against the backdrop of stately trees in the Conservatory's Palms of the World Gallery PHOTO; ANGROVE — *My Soul Blooms Forever,* 2019. Five larger than life flowers in the reflecting pool. The flowers are stunning set against the backdrop of stately trees in the Conservatory’s Palms of the World Gallery

Masumoto, Where it all Began

I first became fascinated by Kusama’s work when visiting the castle town of Matsumoto, Japan. There The Masumoto City Museum of Art was covered in Kusama’s signature polka dots and in the outside courtyard, in front of the museum, were gigantic technicolor tulips bending and undulating in fantasy formations.

Inside the Museum I found a treasure trove of the artist’s sculptures, paintings and infinity mirror installations. I was enchanted and continue to be. Japan Tip to Toe: An Extraordinary Odyssey.

Enchanting Pumpkins:I Want to Fly to the Universe, 2020 seems to dance about the reflecting pool. Situated near the entrance, it immediately capitvates visitors, drawing them into Kusama's world. PHOTO; ANGROVE — *I Want to Fly to the Universe,* 2020. This seems to dance about the reflecting pool. Situated near the entrance, it immediately capitvates visitors, drawing them into Kusama’s world.

Enchanting Pumpkins: Plantings in the walkway of the conservatory change with the seasons. The colors of the plantings are inspired by Kusama's Alone, Buried in a Flower Garden 2014
PHOTO: ANGROVE — Plantings in the walkway of the conservatory change with the seasons. The colors of the plantings are inspired by Kusama’s *Alone, Buried in a Flower Garden 2014*

Enchanting Pumpkins: Hymn of Life - Tulips 2007 in the Hardy Pool in the Conservatory Courtyard. Collection of the City of Beverly Hills — Hymn of Life – Tulips 2007 in the Hardy Pool in the Conservatory Courtyard. Collection of the City of Beverly Hills

Enchanting Pumpkins: Lotus blossoms growing near Kusama's tulips in the Hardy Pool pool in the Conservatory Courtyard. PHOTO: ANGROVE — Lotus blossoms growing near Kusama’s tulips in the Hardy Pool pool in the Conservatory Courtyard.

Enchanting Pumpkins: Flower Bud Opening to the Heavens, 2018. Created with sewn and stuffed fabric, acrylic paint and metal. This piece is shown in one of the interior galleries of the Gardens. Collection of the artist. PHOTO: ANGROVE — *Flower Bud Opening to the Heavens*, 2018. Created with sewn and stuffed fabric, acrylic paint and metal. This piece is shown in one of the interior galleries of the Gardens. Collection of the artist.

Narcissus Garden, 1966/2021 Installation. 1,400 stainless steel spheres bob and float on the waters of the wetland in the Native Plant Garden. They continually move and the reflections change and deepen which is mesmerizing PHOTO: ANGROVE — *Narcissus Garden*, 1,400 stainless steel spheres bob and float on the waters of the wetland in the Native Plant Garden. They continually move, clinking together, and the reflections change and deepen which is mesmerizing. This is a revival of an unauthorized installation near the Venice Bienniale in 1966

Enchanting Pumpkins:
Masumoto City Museum, Japan, covered with Kusama's signature polka dots. In the courtyard Kusama's tulips bob, twist and enchant visitors. Kusamas family lived and owned seed nurseries and land in Masumoto, a small town about 200 miles from Tokyo. PHOTO: ANGROVE — Masumoto City Museum, Japan, covered with Kusama’s signature polka dots. In the courtyard Kusama’s tulips bob, twist and enchant visitors. Kusamas family lived and owned seed nurseries and land in Masumoto, a small town about 200 miles from Tokyo.

Enchanting Pumpkins: Kusama Pumpkins with polka dots at the Masumoto City Art Museum PHOTO: ANGROVE — Kusama Pumpkins with polka dots at the Masumoto City Art Museum

Comments

wendy Phillips says

October 21, 2021 at 1:51 pm

How lovely to see the pictures of this extraordinary exhibit, Angela. Thank you!!
- Angela says
  
  November 9, 2021 at 2:54 pm
  
  I am glad you enjoyed it Wendy. It really was extraordinary, an amazing exhibit so I really wanted to share. And at 92 Kusama is still creating!

Beyond the Pumpkin Patch