“A hypnotic bite of pumpkin perfection — Kusama would call it infinity in maple and spice.”
- Cakepopz Title
Autumn Dots - Medium
Cakepopz, edible pigments and pure joy - Inspired by
Yayoi Kusama’s Pumpkin Sculptures
Autumn Dots
Curator’s Notes:
Kusama’s pumpkins are instantly recognizable for their bold polka dots and organic curves – symbols of comfort, nostalgia, and infinity.
Growing up around her family’s seed nursery in Japan, Kusama was surrounded by pumpkins from an early age and she recalls dreamlike visions of them covered in dots. She has spoken openly about her mental health and the repetitive use of dots as a form of art therapy.
To her the pumpkins have become a source of comfort and stability in her life.
Ingredients
- Vanilla Cake
- Pumpkin Purée
- Pumpkin Spice
- Maple Butter
- Walnuts roasted in Pumpkin Spice, chopped
Flavour Harmony
- Vanilla cake and Pumpkin Purée: both reflect the soft, nurturing essence of comfort and stability. Earthy, familiar and full of warmth.
- Pumpkin Spice and Maple Butter: they capture the golden tones and cozy sweetness of autumn, echoing the glowing yellows and oranges often found in Kusama’s pumpkin sculptures.
- Roasted, Pumpkin Spiced Walnuts: they add texture and depth, much like the dotted surfaces of Kusama’s pumpkins that invite touch and curiosity.
Interpretation: To me Kusama’s pumpkins are about finding comfort and peace in repetition and nature. “Autumn Dots” embodies that same spirit – each Cakepopz a small, comforting universe of colour, texture, and most importantly flavour, celebrating the season’s abundance with playful elegance.
As I decorate each one, I find myself slipping into that same gentle trance Kusama speaks of — the soothing balance between control and surrender that turns repetition into art.
There is a rhythm to the repetition — a quiet meditation in every dot. Whilst adding the dots can feel endlessly repetitive, I remind myself that I’m not aiming for perfection with perfect rows of orange dots. Nature isn’t perfect, nor are my Autumn Dots. The joy lies in their individuality — each one a tiny, edible echo of Kusama’s joyful obsession with pattern and imperfection.