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Introduction
Considered as one of the most iconic and forward-thinking artists of his generation, KAWS is celebrated for his multi-disciplinary practice that subverts the traditions of fine art with street art influences, satirising consumer culture. Breaking the ideological hierarchies between the avant-garde and kitsch, KAWS gives his characters life through a variety of mediums including clothing, limited-edition toys, and large-scale sculptures. His works are highly accessible and firmly embedded within contemporary culture, garnering him a devoted international following and establishing his position as a key player in the lexicon of contemporary art.
KAWS by Nils Mueller for Wertical“When I was younger, I wasn’t going to galleries, I wasn’t going to museums … There was a lot of ‘this is fine art’ or ‘this is not fine art’; ‘this is commercial’, ‘this is high art’. In my mind I thought, art’s purpose is to communicate and reach people. Whichever outlet that’s being done through is the right one.”
— KAWSCaptured mid stride with his arms outstretched and fingers reaching out in an eerie pose, FINAL DAYS is reminiscent of the iconic stance of Frankenstein’s monster, mashed with the contrastingly endearing portrayal of cartoon characters’ gloves, shorts and shoes. Each eye of the figure is marked with the artist’s signature X and his skull is adorned with crossbones, establishing the work as a hallmark within the artist’s oeuvre.
Installation view of a larger edition of FINAL DAYS at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 2016FINAL DAYS
In a sharp divergence to the art historical canon of mythological and biblical depictions rendered in the classical medium of sculpture, FINAL DAYS creates a marked contrast between its traditional wooden medium and its empathically contemporary appearance. From ancient stone carvings to the visionary sculptures of Renaissance artist Michelangelo, or more recently, Auguste Rodin, sculpture has been explored by artists for centuries as a medium in which to artistically render physical forms (see for example, Lot 27 - Auguste Rodin, Le Baiser, 1ère réduction dite aussi "réduction n°1" (1898)).
Auguste Rodin, Le Baiser, 1ère réduction dite aussi "réduction n°1", 1898
Lot 27 - Phillips Hong Kong in Association with Poly Auction Evening Sale, 30 November 2021
Estimate HK$ 10,000,000 - 15,000,000 / US$ 1,280,000 - 1,920,000Truly contemporary in its formation, FINAL DAYS is made from afrormosia hardwood sourced in Africa with the craftsmanship of master craftspeople in Europe. The exposed natural grains of the wood form exquisite swirling striations along the smooth polished surface, with each strip of wood punctiliously fabricated to align with the contours of the figure’s body. As a result, the traditional wooden medium juxtaposes the characteristically contemporary appearance; as the artist recalls: ‘I was thinking of the relationship I’ve had to wood toys growing up and the warmth and feeling they have when you hold them in your hand or place them on a shelf or table and stare at them, I wanted to expand on that, to create a wooden sculpture that makes you feel small but at the same time I want the viewer to feel like they should somehow help or console the work, despite its towering sizei.
Louise Bourgeois, Maman, 1999
Installed at the Long Museum in Shanghai, 2018
© The Easton Foundation / VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NYAs such, a more contemporary comparison can be made to the work of French-American artist Louise Bourgeois, whom too, drew from her childhood memories to form sculptural pieces that are simultaneously haunting and comforting. Like FINAL DAYS, Bourgeois’ spider sculptures are predominantly large in scale, looming over the viewer in a manner that defies the heaviness of their materiality. Instead of evoking predatory fear, however, Bourgeois allows her viewers to explore the depths of their own psyche as she highlights the beauty of her arachnid subjects in works such as Maman (1999) where she includes a sac filled with eggs to symbolise the protective nature of maternal love. Similarly, although the scale, X’d eyes and skull head of KAWS’s FINAL DAYS may appear at first to be menacing characteristics, there is an overwhelmingly endearing quality to the figure too, as viewers are transported into the artist’s toy-like world.
Through KAWS’s repeated use of his iconography, FINAL DAYS has become a motif in his oeuvre that epitomises the artist’s astute ability to reimagine nostalgic symbols for the contemporary era. As Chris Lee commented for the Los Angeles Times: ‘Over the course of a career that has variously infuriated ani-graffiti task force officers and enthralled Japanese street couture collectors-meaning winning props from hip-hop superstars Kanye West and Pharrell Williams - the pop artist KAWS has cared a unique niche for himself… created a business model that bridges the high-low culture divide in ways that would have made steam come out of Andy Warhol’s ears’ii.
Collector’s Digest
Born in New Jersey in 1974, KAWS’s interest in art was shaped by his engagement with skateboarding and graffiti subcultures. Graduating from the New York School of Visual Arts in 1996, KAWS worked as an animator for Jumbo Pictures. It was during this period where he had tagged the advertising posters found at bus stops on the streets of New York with crossed bones and ‘X’s for eyes. His interest in appropriating existing iconography to confront the viewer with the familiar, made strange, soon prompted him to revisit well-known characters from popular, reconceptualising their forms as he translates them into the realm of fine art.
Now celebrated as one of the most important creators of his generation for his ingenuity, work by KAWS can be found in prominent public collections around the world. This includes the Brooklyn Museum, New York; Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas; CAC Malaga; Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego; High Museum of Art, Atlanta; and the Rosenblum Collection, Paris.
In addition to extensive solo exhibitons around the globe, KAWS’s practice has most recently been honoured with a solo exhibition, KAWS: SPOKE TOO SOON, at Skarstedt in New York (5 November – 11 December 2021). KAWS also recently exhibited a monumental retrospective in his hometown, KAWS: WHAT PARTY, which was hosted by the Brooklyn Museum in New York between 26 February – 5 September 2021.
Recent solo exhibitions also include the Mori Arts Centre in Tokyo (16 July – 11 October 2021), and a retrospective at the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia (2019-2020). An upcoming exhibition will soon open at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta: KAWS PRINTS, which will run from 3 December 2021 – 27 March 2022.
i KAWS as quoted in ‘KAWS: The Story Behind an Artwork, in the Artist’s Own Words’, Modern Painters, February 2016
ii Chris Lee, ‘Tag, this artist is definitely it’, Los Angeles Times, 21 February 2009, online
Provenance
Private Collection, New York (acquired directly from the artist)
Acquired from the above by the present ownerExhibited
New York, Brooklyn Museum, KAWS: WHAT PARTY, 26 February – 5 September 2021, p. 243 (another example exhibited)
Artist Biography
KAWS
American • 1974
To understand the work of KAWS is to understand his roots in the skateboard and graffiti crews of New York City. Brian Donnelly chose KAWS as his moniker to tag city streets beginning in the 1990s, and quickly became a celebrated standout in the scene. Having swapped spray paint for explorations in fine art spanning sculpture, painting and collage, KAWS has maintained a fascination with classic cartoons, including Garfield, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Simpsons, and reconfigured familiar subjects into a world of fantasy.
Perhaps he is most known for his larger-than-life fiberglass sculptures that supplant the body of Mickey Mouse onto KAWS' own imagined creatures, often with 'x'-ed out eyes or ultra-animated features. However, KAWS also works frequently in neon and vivid paint, adding animation and depth to contemporary paintings filled with approachable imagination. There is mass appeal to KAWS, who exhibits globally and most frequently in Asia, Europe and the United States.
Property of an Important Collector
47
FINAL DAYS
wood
210 x 195 x 137 cm. (84 x 74 x 53 1/2 in.)
Executed in 2014, this work is number 2 from an edition of 3 plus 2 artist’s proofs and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.
Estimate
HK$6,200,000 - 8,200,000
€707,000-935,000
$795,000-1,050,000
Sold for HK$8,115,000
Charlotte Raybaud
Head of Evening Sale, 20th Century & Contemporary Art
+852 2318 2026
CharlotteRaybaud@phillips.com
20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale in Association with Poly Auction
Hong Kong Auction 30 November 2021
1
Cinga Samson
Ivory V
Estimate HK$250,000 - 350,000
Sold for HK$2,520,000
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2
Salman Toor
East Village Iqbal Bano
Estimate HK$1,800,000 - 2,800,000
Sold for HK$4,536,000
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3
Nina Chanel Abney
Untitled (IXI Black)
Estimate HK$1,500,000 - 2,500,000
Sold for HK$3,024,000
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4
Jamian Juliano-Villani
Clear Cough from Your Schedule
Estimate HK$200,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$781,200
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5
Mr.
Yume—Breath of the Earth
Estimate HK$1,000,000 - 2,000,000
Sold for HK$4,032,000
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6
Julie Curtiss
Escargot
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
Sold for HK$1,449,000
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7
Javier Calleja
30 works: Untitled
Estimate HK$10,000,000 - 15,000,000
Sold for HK$12,108,000
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8
Javier Calleja
You Me
Estimate HK$3,000,000 - 4,000,000
Sold for HK$7,026,000
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9
Aya Takano
In the Lab (the Birth of Jelly)
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$441,000
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10
Hernan Bas
Minimalism (cracking the code)
Estimate HK$1,000,000 - 1,500,000
Sold for HK$3,780,000
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11
Joel Mesler
Untitled (Night Out)
Estimate HK$500,000 - 700,000
Sold for HK$1,512,000
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12
Shara Hughes
Magic Island
Estimate HK$1,500,000 - 2,500,000
Sold for HK$4,788,000
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13
Scott Kahn
Cadman Plaza
Estimate HK$1,000,000 - 1,500,000
Sold for HK$7,510,000
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14
Matthew Wong
Nature’s Church
Estimate HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000
Sold for HK$9,204,000
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15
Matthew Wong
Far Away Eyes
Estimate HK$8,000,000 - 12,000,000
Sold for HK$21,183,000
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16
Gerhard Richter
Kerzenschein (Candle-light)
Estimate HK$55,000,000 - 75,000,000
Sold for HK$101,970,000
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17
This lot is no longer available.
18
Yayoi Kusama
INFINITY-NETS (OPRT)
Estimate HK$15,000,000 - 25,000,000
Sold for HK$22,635,000
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19
Yayoi Kusama
Repetition
Estimate HK$15,000,000 - 20,000,000
Sold for HK$19,005,000
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20
Nicolas Party
Still Life
Estimate HK$6,200,000 - 9,400,000
Sold for HK$17,190,000
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21
David Hockney
Bridlington Violets
Estimate HK$10,000,000 - 15,000,000
Sold for HK$12,350,000
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22
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Self-Portrait with a Cat
Estimate HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000
Sold for HK$5,292,000
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23
This lot is no longer available.
24
Sanyu
Paysage Aux Hirondelles
Estimate HK$26,000,000 - 46,000,000
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25
Zao Wou-Ki
Sans titre ("Notre Dame")
Estimate HK$7,500,000 - 10,000,000
Sold for HK$10,051,000
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26
Zao Wou-Ki
Brume d’automne
Estimate HK$4,500,000 - 7,500,000
Sold for HK$4,788,000
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27
Auguste Rodin
Le Baiser, 1ère réduction dite aussi "réduction n°1"
Estimate HK$10,000,000 - 15,000,000
Sold for HK$11,745,000
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28
Zao Wou-Ki
20.3.64.
Estimate HK$20,000,000 - 30,000,000
Sold for HK$22,030,000
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29
This lot is no longer available.
30
Alexander Calder
Two Red Petals in the Air
Estimate HK$16,000,000 - 20,000,000
Sold for HK$20,820,000
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31
Claude Monet
Pavots dans un vase de Chine
Estimate HK$9,500,000 - 15,000,000
Sold for HK$13,560,000
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32
Georges Mathieu
Saxifrage
Estimate HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000
Sold for HK$2,520,000
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33
This lot is no longer available.
34
Huang Yuxing
Floating Bubbles
Estimate HK$1,800,000 - 2,800,000
Sold for HK$2,772,000
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35
Zhou Chunya
Smell the Flowers
Estimate HK$5,000,000 - 7,000,000
Sold for HK$6,905,000
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36
This lot is no longer available.
37
Liu Ye
Flagship No. 2
Estimate HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000
Sold for HK$5,922,000
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38
Wang Xingwei
Untitled (Heart-Shaped Dance)
Estimate HK$2,800,000 - 4,800,000
Sold for HK$3,780,000
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39
Liu Ye
Untitled
Estimate HK$3,000,000 - 5,000,000
Sold for HK$3,780,000
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40
Liu Wei
You Like Smoking?
Estimate HK$3,000,000 - 5,000,000
Sold for HK$3,780,000
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41
Izumi Kato
Untitled
Estimate HK$4,500,000 - 7,500,000
Sold for HK$11,745,000
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42
Yoshitomo Nara
Pandora's Box
Estimate HK$7,500,000 - 10,000,000
Sold for HK$13,560,000
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43
George Condo
The Dreamer
Estimate HK$4,600,000 - 6,200,000
Sold for HK$11,140,000
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44
George Condo
Entangled Figures
Estimate HK$6,200,000 - 9,200,000
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45
This lot is no longer available.
46
KAWS
NEW YORK
Estimate HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000
Sold for HK$5,040,000
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47
KAWS
FINAL DAYS
Estimate HK$6,200,000 - 8,200,000
Sold for HK$8,115,000
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48
Raymond Pettibon
Untitled (Force makes nature...)
Estimate HK$1,500,000 - 2,500,000
Sold for HK$3,906,000
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49
Robert Nava
Angel Shark
Estimate HK$1,200,000 - 1,800,000
Sold for HK$4,410,000
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50
Susumu Kamijo
Marching To The Sun
Estimate HK$450,000 - 650,000
Sold for HK$2,142,000
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51
Jadé Fadojutimi
Fishing For Steps
Estimate HK$1,200,000 - 2,200,000
Sold for HK$4,788,000
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52
Mickalene Thomas
Looking Up from the She Works Hard For the Money Pin-Up series
Estimate HK$1,000,000 - 2,000,000
Sold for HK$3,780,000
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53
Billie Zangewa
Cirque d'hiver
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
Sold for HK$567,000
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54
Godwin Champs Namuyimba
The Connector
Estimate HK$200,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$1,323,000
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55
Tunji Adeniyi-Jones
Blue Ancestor
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
Sold for HK$1,071,000
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56
Tomoo Gokita
Final Confrontation
Estimate HK$1,200,000 - 2,200,000
Sold for HK$2,520,000
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57
Ewa Juszkiewicz
Appropriation
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
Sold for HK$1,890,000
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58
Lucas Arruda
Untitled from the series Deserto-Modelo
Estimate HK$1,000,000 - 1,500,000
Sold for HK$3,780,000
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