The artist KAWS was in Hong Kong this week to open a new art exhibition titled “Passing Through”. The location of the show is Harbour City, a sprawling complex of shopping malls in Tsim Sha Tsui.
KAWS is well known in Hong Kong for his designer toy figures and is popular with local influencer / collectors including Edison from CLOT and TK from Silly Thing.
A gigantic five-meter tall KAWS figure is currently perched outside of Harbour City, near the shopping mall’s Star Ferry entrance.
As could be expected, it attracts a steady stream of people pausing to pose for pictures in front of it.
[photopress:Kaws_harbor_city_art_hong_kong.jpg,full,pp_image]On display inside Harbour City are a selection of ink drawings featuring the artist’s trademark iconography. The new work has a sort of R. Crumb-like sketch quality to it.
[photopress:Kaws_hong_kong_passing_through.jpg,full,pp_image]The exhibition includes several lines of KAWS’ vinyl figures in various sizes, from the small ‘Chum’ and ‘Tweety’ characters, to a line-up of life-sized ‘KAWS Companions’.
KAWS often remixes Pop-culture icons in his paintings and toy figures. In the Passing Through exhibition, you can find the artist’s take on Pinocchio, Tweety, and the Michelin Man, as well as Star Wars and Disney characters.
The life-sized figures seem to be one of the artist’s biggest attractions. People generally appreciate them as a form of contemporary sculpture.
For more insight into the work of KAWS, check out his official blog which has behind-the-scenes photos and other goodies!
KAWS Passing Through exhibition
Open now until October 24th, 2010
Harbour City
3 – 27 Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
