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Yayoi Kusama died from multiple organ failure at a Tokyo hospital on August 14, aged 97, according to David Zwirner, the gallery that represented her. The Yayoi Kusama Museum and Foundation announced the news on August 27. As tributes pour in, here’s ours: a look back at Bangkok’s history with the Japanese artist – and where to see one of her pumpkins in the city today.
Kusama grew up in Matsumoto, where visual hallucinations of dots and patterns began in childhood and became the language of her art. She moved to New York in 1957 in search of artistic freedom, then returned to Japan in 1973. Four years later, she voluntarily moved into a Tokyo psychiatric hospital, working from a nearby studio for the rest of her life.
Bangkok had its own Kusama history: a 2005 show at 100 Tonson Gallery; Dots Obsession at BACC in 2009; giant pumpkins at CentralWorld and Siam Paragon for Bangkok Art Biennale 2018; and Louis Vuitton’s 101-pumpkin takeover at Parc Paragon in 2023.
Most has since moved on: exhibitions end, installations are shipped elsewhere, and the Louis Vuitton screens at The Place nod to the collaboration rather than display original Kusama works.
One thing remains, though. Fittingly, it’s a pumpkin.
Where to see Yayoi Kusama in Bangkok right now
The pumpkin at Siam Patumwan House
At the time of writing, this is the only Kusama sculpture we could confirm is still standing in Bangkok. JWD Art Space handled the import, transport and installation of Yellow Pumpkin, which measures more than three metres, at Siam Patumwan House.
Siam Patumwan House sits directly opposite BACC, putting the pumpkin in plain sight on one of Bangkok’s most art-heavy stretches. Its ground floor is also home to a Lawson convenience store and SOMA Bangkok, a modern Thai social kitchen from three well-known chefs, open daily for lunch and dinner.
There is one catch: check access before setting out. Siam Patumwan House is an office and mixed-use building, not a museum, although at least part of the ground floor is open to walk-in visitors.
Where: Siam Patumwan House, 414 Phayathai Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan
Nearest BTS: National Stadium
Opening hours: No set visitor hours. The office tower has 24-hour security, but the pumpkin stands in the ground-floor entrance area, with no tenant pass required. Check the building’s website at siampatumwanhouse.co.th or call ahead in case access has changed.