KAWS: Holiday- Hangzhou Announced

Sep 15

It’s been a busy September for KAWS. Off the heels of the Uniqlo KAWS Universe release, comes the almost annual KAWS: Holiday tradition. Returning with a bright new Robotic Companion and a late September product launch, this Holiday is bound to turn heads.

Working alongside local partner WESTLAKE 66 and longstanding partner AllRightsReserved (ARR) / DDTStore, KAWS has unveiled the new Robotic Companion, both as 30’ meter yellow inflatable installation at the “Orioles Singing in the Willows” section of the Ten Scenes of West Lake, as well as a vinyl figures, bronze incense holders, and more.

INSTALLATION AND COLLECTIBLES

As per tradition with the KAWS: Holiday launches, this installation is accompanied with a full vinyl figure line, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and a mug, which have become common staples of the Holiday releases. Unique to this release will be a silver Bronze Incense Holder as well as a Chinese Tea Cup Set.
What also makes this release a little different, is that the primary collectible vinyl figures (Matte Black and Gloss Yellow variants), will feature the new robotic companion standing up, as opposed to lying down like the primary installation sculpture.

Past Work and Looking To the Future

The new Robotic Companion is a departure from recent KAWS releases, both Holiday and otherwise in terms of design. While the poses are familiar, the complete reskin of the Companion is uniquely different from recent work and brand new in terms of the KAWS characters and universe that he has crafted over the years. This release feels more in line with his past work with Star Wars as opposed to recent holiday releases as it pertains to design details and overall approach to the Companion. The new Robotic Companion features a halo textures to the ears along with a visor and helmet over the iconic X eyes, power chest plate, actuating arms and legs, and tactile gloves.
The pose featured in the inflatable installation was last seen with KAWS: Holiday Japan in 2019, while the main yellow and black vinyl figures take the traditional, slightly slouched Companion pose released in 2004 (Companion Five Years Later). This departure is a welcome change and sure to drum up plenty of hype.

Photo from AllRightsReserved and KAWS Instagram

What to Know

Installation Dates: September 24 - September 27 at “Orioles Singing in the Willows” , West Lake, Hangzhou
Product Release Dates: September 23, 10:00pm EST or September 24, 10:00am HKT.
Edition: Limited - Holiday Release
Artist: KAWS
Price: Ranges, from $44.00USD for the Mugs, all the way up to $600 for the bronze incense holder. The vinyl figures, which often are the most popular from any given release, will be $318USD, which is in line with his common $320/USD for most vinyl releases.
Featured Work: KAWS Robot Companion
Available Via: DDTStore