Get ready for a visual feast as Yayoi Kusama, Japan's revered 'Princess of the Polka Dot,' makes a splash on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula with the unveiling of her first major-scale pumpkin sculpture in Australia.
Pt. Leo Estate, already boasting an impressive collection of contemporary art, welcomes the iconic pumpkin alongside works by renowned artists like Jaume Plensa, KAWS, Inge King, and Reko Rennie, solidifying its status as Australia’s largest private sculpture collection.
The three-metre-wide red and black Pumpkin, a testament to Kusama’s celebrated motif, takes pride of place in the picturesque surroundings of Pt. Leo Estate. Set against rolling vineyards with panoramic views of Western Port Bay and Phillip Island, the sculpture adds a new dimension to the Estate’s already diverse and captivating art collection.
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Geoffrey Edwards, Pt. Leo Sculpture Park Consultant Curator, expressed excitement about the new acquisition, stating, “We are thrilled to announce that Australia’s foremost Sculpture Park at Pt. Leo Estate has acquired a red and black Pumpkin.” The monumental artwork, larger than Kusama’s iconic Naoshima sculpture, promises a spectacular coastal vista as its backdrop.
Kusama’s pumpkins, world-famous for their vibrant colours and whimsical polka dots, are deeply rooted in the artist’s childhood experiences. The Pumpkins, a recurring motif in Kusama’s multidisciplinary practice, pay homage to her time on a small farm, where she imagined being lost in a field of talking flowers. The dots on the flowers later became an obsession for the artist, evolving into the distinctive polka dots seen in her pumpkins today.
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The unveiling of the Pt. Leo Pumpkin, crafted in bronze, mosaic, and stainless steel, further cements Kusama’s legacy alongside other luminaries in the Pt. Leo collection.
Situated on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Pt. Leo Estate boasts over 300 acres of vines, a sculpture park, and top-tier restaurants. Home to Australia’s largest privately-owned sculpture collection, the 330-acre Sculpture Park is an ever-evolving display featuring works from Australian and international artists. Kusama joins the ranks of trailblazing creators like KAWS, Jaume Plensa, Inge King, and Antony Gormley, creating a diverse and eclectic outdoor gallery.
The Pumpkin, with its red and black polka dots conceived in 2019, is a testament to Kusama’s philosophy. She describes polka dots as “a way to infinity” and admires the “humility and comfort” of the pumpkin form itself.
Pt. Leo Estate, located at 3649 Frankston-Flinders Road, Merricks Victoria, invites art enthusiasts to experience the new acquisition and explore the Sculpture Park daily from 11 am to 5 pm.
