5 Things To Expect When The KAWS:HOLIDAY Installation Opens Tomorrow At Marina Bay
The 42m-long inflatable sculpture by American artist KAWS has taken over our NDP venue.
After a tour that included stops in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the UK and even outer space, American artist KAWS’ installation KAWS:HOLIDAY has arrived in Singapore. The installation consists of a 42m-long inflatable figure, modelled after a Mickey Mouse-esque character KAWS (real name: Brian Donnelly) created called Companion, which reclines on a grass field at The Float @ Marina Bay. Yep, the same field our contingents marched on for the National Day Parade.
The artwork is open for public viewing from tomorrow (Nov 14) till Nov 21, 2021. If you’re planning to head there to snap some photos, here are five things to expect:
1. It’s flanked by Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum
Unlike the KAWS:HOLIDAY editions in Hong Kong and Seoul, where the Companion floated languidly on the waters in Victoria Harbour and Seokchon Lake respectively, it’s firmly planted on the ground in Singapore against a backdrop of Marina Bay Sands and ArtScience Museum. Talk about maximum aesthetics.
2. You can get super up close with it
Once the installation opens to the public tomorrow, you can go right up to the figure to take photos (the larger Companion is hugging a smaller one, like a parent and child). This is also your last chance to meander at The Float - the floating platform will be demolished next year to make way for a new NDP venue called NS Square, which is slated to be completed in 2025.
3. Bring an umbrella and wear sensible shoes
The Companion is chilling in an open-air flat grass field that gets slightly waterlogged in the recent rainy weather, so keep your heels at home and stash a brolly in your bag.
4. The artist is in town
The New York-based KAWS (right in pic) specially flew to Singapore to launch his Holiday installation, which he started in 2018 with Hong Kong-based creative studio AllRightsReserved’s curator SK Lam (left).
5. The merch store is already sold out
AllRightsReserved opened its Holiday online store for Singapore this morning at 10am, with exclusive KAWS-themed merchandise that included S$388 vinyl Companion figurines, $67 logo singlets and a S$1,023 Camping Set with a portable table and chair. The limited-quantity items sold out almost immediately, and are now waitlisted with the camping gear popping up on Carousell for S$2,100. Any takers?
Details
KAWS:HOLIDAY SINGAPORE, Nov 14-21, 2021, 2pm-9pm daily at The Float @ Marina Bay. Free admission. Merchandise store at www.ddtstore.com.
Photos: Yip Jieying
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