In 1993 she represented Japan at the 45th Venice Biennale. From then on, her pumpkin themed works became famous, leading to the creation of large scale installations, such as the outdoor sculpture at Fukuoka Art Museum. Inspiration for the "pumpkin" theme originated from the artist's childhood. During the war, Kusama's home was filled with pumpkins. She said, "When I was a child I used to play in the plant nursery outside my house. The pumpkins I picked would talk to me. The shape of a pumpkin is way too cute⋯what attracts me is its bare swollen belly, and the strong sense of mental stability".