03 Oct KAWS for Alarm
It’s been a big year for the artist born Brian Donnelly. In April, his painting The Kaws Album (a 2005 riff on The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band composed of characters from The Simpsons) sold at auction for $14.7 million. The prior month the Hong Kong Contemporary Art Foundation opened a survey to coincide with the city’s Art Basel fair. In June, the artist’s collaboration with fast fashion giant Uniqlo whipped shoppers in mainland China into an absolutely frenzy.
But this past week, Chinese fans took offense to a 2002 work depicting Chairman Mao, which had been schedule to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in an auction that coincides with the 70th birthday of the People’s Republic of China. This led to a massive boycott of Uniqlo, the mass, public burning of KAWS merchandise, and the work being pulled from auction.
We’re sure KAWS will bounce right back, but in the meantime, enjoy these two coasters by Jared Yamahata that pay tribute to Japanese candy company mascot, Peko Chan, in a very familiar way.
Jared Yamahata
Peko Chan Kaws
Acrylic on board
$110
Jared Yamahata
Peko Chan Mind’s Eye
Acrylic on board
$110