Amazing video shows Yayoi Kusama’s iconic ‘Yellow Pumpkin’ artwork being swept away in typhoon

An iconic giant piece of artwork by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has been the victim of a typhoon as it was washed into the sea.

Kusama’s “Yellow Pumpkin” was installed on a pier on the shore of Naoshima island in Kagawa Prefecture.

Despite being secured in place, a typhoon damaged the popular attraction and it was washed into the sea on 9 August by winds and heavy rain.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, winds were more than 52mph and the typhoon hit the area of Kagawa Prefecture hard.

Staff members from Benesse Corporation, which owns the famous Kusama artwork, were able to retrieve the large sculpture from the sea, but it had suffered heavy damage from the storm.

They had been on site to monitor whether the yellow polka-dot pumpkin was going to be washed away, but were powerless to stop the worsening wind and rain from wrecking it.

The sculpture, which is 2 meters high and 2.5 meters wide, became dislodged and crashed into the pier multiple times at around 10:30am.

Incredible footage of the sea encroaching on the pier and artwork was posted on Twitter by user @aomizuki2007.

In response, someone asked why the authorities hadn’t removed the pumpkin like they have done in the past when a storm is incoming.

They wrote: “Nooooo why didn’t they carry it away like they usually do??”

Benesse confirmed on Twitter that the artwork has now been recovered and will be restored and re-exhibited in the future.