NGV|KAWS

NGV|KAWS

 

Once walking through the security line, enter the gate of the National Gallery of Victoria, the most massive bronze sculpture of Brain Donnelly (born 1974), aka KAWS will come into view. In the open atrium, under the sunshine of midsummer, the 6.7-meter "Pieta" sculpture(GONE) made me see an overwhelming and irresistible corner of loneliness in the modern society, with the irritability of busy schedule and summer heat. However, at that moment, there was a sudden silence, like caught a glimpse of someone else's affectionateness, which leads people to think about loneliness. This article will review my visiting, whist analyzing KWAS as an artist in the field of contemporary art.

 

Firstly, the tour begins with a silent check-in queue. And there seems to be no historical or civilized argument about KAWS, even seems there is nothing for strangers to discuss which may important than a selfie.Melbournians welcome KAWS, or there would not be long queues at the entrance. I also observed the crowd while waiting in line, politely. There were a lot of people who looked like students of high school and college, And there were a lot of Asian faces, probably international students. For Peredvizhniki's exhibition, such an audience is unlikely to appear. So the primary audience of KAWS is distinct.

 

The theme of the exhibition in NGV is "Companionship in the age of Loneliness", which is the perpetual theme of KWAS's artworks. The whole exhibition introduces a full range of KAWS's artistic outputs, from co-brand figures to sketches or postcard. In a hybrid and collaborative way, KWAS occupy every detail of people's lives and work. Swizz Beatz(2008)claim that the non-mainstream underground artist would on the main stage. Until currently, more than 900,000 posts Bearing the hashtag # KAWS# have been posted on Instagram. By comparison to the words that "I just want to exist." (Chirstie's 2020) which said by KAWS's as a graffiti artist in early days, now, KAWS is everywhere. His collaborations with Bathing Ape and Supreme are also included in the portfolio for sale. Hence, KAWS could already be called one of the most famous artist.

 

KWAS's commercial success is admirable and thought-provoking. His artworks range from as low as $15 to as high as $2.4 million. Meanwhile, the edition size of artworks is flexible on different platforms. According to "Multiples are a huge part of what KAWS's art is about" (Intelligence Report 2020). The work of KAWS that is no longer one-and-only would still have significant commercial value in this era.

 

On the other hand, KWAS is more valuable in emotional resonance than in piecing together famous IP. Donnelly claims that his work presents an antidote or rejoinder to the increasingly toxic nature of public discourse and social media, and division within and across societies. (NGV 2020)He calls for people to embrace each other and live a compassionate life to overcome the loneliness of The Times. For us, although compassion is one of the rarest things, it gradually is ignored in life. When spectator stands under the magnificent stained-glass windows of the NGV, the stationery toys and installations are soft and alive, though touching the smooth and soft surface is prohibited. There is a kind of power from the sculpture, which is delicate, silent, but reliable, just like a rational and calm friend standing behind. Hence, the emotion of regret and expectation would come from the immersion of artworks.

 

KAWS got me thinking about the emotional topics that I have been forgotten for a long time. It is a fact that for contemporary youth, the way to fight against loneliness would not be useful. Otherwise, the Internet would not full of questions about how to deal with isolation as loneliness has been a group feature but no longer just a problem for a particular individual. Although there is much psychological research about the group situation, in the long term, there would no practical antidote be put forward. Thus some believe that people might be doomed to face this isolation alone.

 

Meanwhile, most of KAWS's fans are young, and more are joining into the group. Because of the widespread concern, anxiety and loneliness of the modern world among young people could be the source of KAWS' inspiration. Now, in the face of the world's endless problems, looking for a rebellious and lovely partner is what young people need, especially when the concerns about the world have risen to a new level. Meanwhile, the method of expression has changed from one direction to the co-creation of the creator and the audience. Donnelly takes advantage of the tendency of the modern public, then visualize and amplify the value of companion in the inner world. This explicit disclosure could be seen as a very moving and touching story, and that is one of the reasons why KWAS has many loyal supports.

 

Indeed, almost anyone can own KAWS works or related goods, and I am no exception to buy many souvenirs. Just as people are happy to choose from the same brand of clothing, KAWS's derivatives are wide enough to fill an entire house. At the same time, it even provides some customized services to meet the needs of customers. If possible, I think it is feasible to build a theme park, because there have been many large-scale outdoor events before. If compared with Banksy, who is also a graffiti artist, there is no need to judge the good and the bad first. They are all expressing and calling in their way and stirring up social waves. Their popularity makes them assume social responsibility which is much more than the individual, and they have influenced the values of many young people. As we seldom think about a sentence in a novel or a poem currently. Instead, we face the world through the filter of social media.

 

While some may always have a agitate feeling about contemporary art. The impatient sense could come from an abstract theme or unique form because there is not enough information to help people to understand the work of an artist. There is thereby a pressure that people need to read papers or consult the biography of artists, and then find clues from those articles or documentaries, to inquiry a specific implication. But there might still have a long way from a deep understanding of the core concept. Nevertheless, KAWS welcomes every new audience with a total embrace, especially for young people from all classes. There is no arrogance but playfulness, like pop music.KAWS offers the spectator a balanced perspective of artists and their work, and allow any comments on social media.

 

When strolling through the bright glass corridors, from Simpsons to Star Wars to Disney, KAWS absorbs and fuses the famous IP and turns it into its context.KWAS really could make the boundary of IP transparent.  This is a direct and thorough approach, which no longer confined by the characteristics and positions of business, but completely consumed other brands. Given this, the mode of creation is a carnival, and there is no distinction of artistic achievements.

 

Besides, the spectator could see the outward features of famous cartoon characters be stripped away. However, the essential visual elements are revealed, such as Mickey Mouse's round ears, white gloves, and suspenders. Because the already symbolized features could arouse people's infinite association, from this, the memory of modern people is composed of virtual imprints and ordinary reality. It also means that people now could not form memories without virtual elements. The definition of companion, in turn, be extended to all digital icons, because almost everyone has a partner in the virtual world, such as Sonic and Spiderman. Thus spectators communicate with the cultural symbols of the times we ever experienced through the artwork of KWAS, rather than resonating and thinking from KAWS itself，simultaneously releasing the emotions and nostalgia. While what uniqueness is the sense of inclusion in childlike innocence that people need after experience the loneliness of modern society.

 

Moreover, there are no obvious political or cultural metaphors, which might be seen as a personal expression of the artist in the KWAS exhibition. The sensitive points could partially be made transparent and hidden consciously or unconsciously. It is admitted that artists deserve respect for their freedom of creation. But how artists could creating purely, and how to define the purity of artworks, would become a meaningless topic in the context of increasingly fierce political competition. However, it is suggested that KWAS could merely play a role in the integration of different cultures dependently.

 

Additionally, KWAS demonstrated its flexibility and inclusiveness for an all-age audience. The exhibition at the NGV is children available, the windows and lights create a bright atmosphere, except for the security guards in black suits who add a dissonant seriousness to space. There is an area of entertainment. The multimedia interactive gives visitors of all ages the chance to play with different features of BFF and create a video portrait to share with friends. Besides, the walls are pink and blue, which decorated with soft plush toys. And the furniture is children size which thus let the adults look a bit pale and funny, just like the black and grey clothes they wear. After the reminiscence of a bunch of classic animated characters, it is an impressive experience to realize the fact of growing up and the reality of the world. However, the security personnel look like a real-world alarm clock, smiling amiable while checking everyone's backpack. This is the real absurdity that leaks out of the romantic art world, and this ambivalent complexity is all the more apparent when it comes to the checkout line.

 

The NGV's coffee is good, so my friends and I sat down in the restaurant for a while and pick out the photos in the camera then email them to families. We agreed that we were more interested in emerging artists like KAWS than the East Asian artifacts. While we respect traditional art, we also want to see artists who can face the hardness of reality and speak up for individuals.

 

There is a lot of controversy behind the fame, about art and commerce. Some argue that KAWS does not create artworks but goods which is cheap and superficial, and KAWS is a brand of cartoon toys. So just like Coca-Cola, KAWS bubbles would eventually disappear and end up with a bland can of sugar water that is unhealthy. I think KAWS  is precise because people need someone to create a content of warm companion and resonance, thereby KAWS comes like a wave. When people do not need it, time will give the response.

 

In conclusion, the whole tour is enjoyable, together with complex thinking. The bronze sculpture is impressive, though the value of an artwork is not static worship long ago. Meanwhile, the cooperation of IP is highly free almost without differentiated marketing. Because of this, KWAS indicate the inner vitality and inclusiveness from its world. However, for someone who learns pure painting since childhood, it needs some patience to appreciate the artworks of KWAS. Because compared with traditional art, it is like a monitor reflecting the trend of the world which continually making a beep. As for the meaning of companionship, there is no standard to measure such a private thing. I think the exhibition's theme is more like an optional movie title, or a footnote to the characters in a movie. Finally, it is suggested that KWAS could always refuse to be a popcorn movie maker because his value is that he CARE, especially in this chaotic year of 2020.

 

 

 

Reference:

Anon(2020) Doitemedia.com. Available at: https://doitemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/intelligence_report_spring.pdf (Accessed: 26 March 2020).

 

10 things to know about KAWS | Christie's (2020). Available at: https://www.christies.com/features/KAWS-artist-guide-9756-1.aspx (Accessed: 26 March 2020).

 

Swizz Beatz Discusses His Relationship to Art and Collecting (2016). Available at: https://www.culturedmag.com/swizz-beatz/ (Accessed: 26 March 2020).

 

Intelligence Report (2020). Available at: https://www.readkong.com/page/intelligence-report-2791593 (Accessed: 26 March 2020).

 

KAWS | NGV (2020). Available at: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/kaws/ (Accessed: 26 March 2020).

 

Official Website:

https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/kaws/