"The arrival of KAWS:HOLIDAY Abu Dhabi, created in collaboration with long-time partner AllRightsReserved, marks the newest stop in the artist's global series of large-scale public sculptures. On view until January 4th, 2026, the artist's signature figure spans 32 meters in length and anchors Manar Abu Dhabi 2025, the citywide light art exhibition organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi."
"Against the reflective gulf waters and the illuminated skyline, KAWS' reclining Companion holds a radiant full moon close to its chest. Dhows, traditional sailing vessels, once relied on constellations to chart their journeys, reading tides by moonlight long before GPS. Here, that memory becomes a visual guide once again, transformed into a sculpture. The soft glow of the moon diffuses onto the water, scattering light across the harbor and echoing the lantern-lit origins of the installation's debut."
KAWS:HOLIDAY Abu Dhabi features a 32-meter reclining Companion installed along Mina Zayed, holding a glowing moon. The sculpture anchors Manar Abu Dhabi 2025, a citywide light art exhibition presented by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi. The figure rests on the waterfront, casting a soft glow that diffuses onto the gulf and scatters across the harbor. The work references traditional dhow navigation by moonlight, transforming that memory into a visual guide. Manar's second edition comprises 22 site-specific works by 15 Emirati and international artists across Jubail Island, Al Ain's UNESCO oases, and multiple coastal and urban sites. The installation remains on view until January 4th, 2026.
Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine
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