Yayoi Kusama’s Yellow Pumpkin.

Perched at the end of a concrete pier on Naoshima Island, Yayoi Kusama’s Yellow Pumpkin is perhaps the most recognizable symbol of Japan’s "Art Island" movement. Installed in 1994, it was the artist’s first pumpkin sculpture designed specifically for an outdoor environment, intended to interact directly with the tides and the shifting light of the Seto Inland Sea. The oversized fiberglass gourd is covered in Kusama's signature black polka dots, creating a stark, playful contrast against the blue horizon. After being swept away by a typhoon in 2021, the sculpture was meticulously reconstructed with a reinforced interior to better withstand the elements. It remains a focal point of the Benesse House area, offering a rare opportunity to experience high-concept contemporary art in a completely open, coastal setting.