Painted bronze sculpture Edition: 26/30

14.5 × 16.5 × 16.5 cm. 5 3/4 × 6 1/2 × 6 1/2 in.

Incised with the artist's name in English, stamped with artist's seal, dated, cast dated and numbered on the underside
PROVENANCE
Kura Gallery, Kyoto
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist issued by Kura Gallery, Kyoto

The Ultimate Form of Life:
Pumpkin No.1 and Pumpkin No.2

Pumpkin No.1 (Lot 8) and Pumpkin No.2 (Lot 7) completed in 1988 are important prototypes of large outdoor pumpkin sculptures that appeared in the late 1990s, which are different from the colorful works of the same theme in the later period. They carry a simple yet heavy spiritual dispatch, unreservedly revealing the essence of life. Kusama uses bronze as the medium, and the delicate brushstrokes on the original metal color to give Pumpkin No. 1 the real visual characteristics. On the green pumpkin body, several solid pumpkin ribs gather the perseverance like a skeleton, showing the tenacious vitality in the hidden inside. The simple, plain, and calm expression of Pumpkin No. 1 and the pumpkin base above create a momentum of “grow to the sun”, entrusting the artist's infinite hope for the future.

Pumpkin No.2 further continues this life kinetic energy:the thick silver paint wraps the bronze pumpkin body tightly. The pumpkin ridges rise upwardly on the more smooth and round pumpkin body, inheriting from Pumpkin No.1. The continuation not only shows a moment of life transformation, but also reveals the driving force from the “origin”-under the shining appearance of Pumpkin No.2, it is the most solid core of Pumpkin No.1 and the ultimate life form shared by the pumpkins created by Kusama.

Price estimate:
HKD: 150,000 - 220,000
USD: 19,300 - 28,300

Auction Result:
HKD: 420,000