Yayoi Kusama's 'Pumpkin' becomes most expensive art piece auctioned in S. Korea this year

▲ This image provided by Seoul Auction shows "Pumpkin" (1981) by renowned Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Japanese artist-auction

Yayoi Kusama's 'Pumpkin' becomes most expensive art piece auctioned in S. Korea this year

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Renowned Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama's early "Pumpkin" work has become the most expensive artwork sold in South Korean auctions this year to date.

"Pumpkin," a 1981 work by Kusama, was sold for 5.4 billion won (US$4.5 million) during an auction held at Seoul Auction's Gangnam Center on Tuesday, the auction house said.

The masterpiece broke the previous record of 4.2 billion set by Marc Chagall's "The Garden of Saint Paul," (1973) in May.

"Pumpkin" also became the most expensive artwork from the artist that has been sold in South Korea. The previous record was 3.65 billion won.

The painting has drawn attention during the auction for being from the period when the 92-year-old artist began to create works using her iconic, polka-dotted yellow pumpkin motif.

The 1.16-meter-wide work is the largest of Kusama's Pumpkin series paintings that have been introduced in South Korea.

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