Photo/Illutration Yayoi Kusama’s artwork that was damaged in a typhoon last year is restored and unveiled on Oct. 4 in Naoshima, Kagawa Prefecture. (Akari Kamiya)

NAOSHIMA, Kagawa Prefecture--An artwork by famed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama that was badly damaged by a typhoon last year was restored and displayed once again here, one of Japan’s art islands in the Seto Island Sea, on Oct. 4.

The "Yellow Pumpkin," painted with black polka dots, measures 2 meters high and 2.5 meters wide and is made of fiber-reinforced plastic.

The artwork by Kusama had become a symbol of the island since it was installed at the tip of a pier jutting into the sea in 1994. It had attracted islanders and tourists.

Strong winds from a typhoon in August 2021, however, washed the pumpkin out to sea. The artwork repeatedly crashed into the pier and was severely damaged.

Staff members restored the pumpkin over half a year with Kusama overseeing the work, according to Benesse Holdings Inc., an education-related company, which manages the artwork.

The color, size and materials are the same as before, but the artwork was thickened and made heavier to strengthen its ability to survive wind and rain.

Naoshima is one of the venues for the Setouchi Triennale, a contemporary art festival held every three years on the islands and harbors in Kagawa and Okayama prefectures.

The festival will run through Nov. 6.

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