PLAYA VISTA, CA - OCTOBER 15: General views of the KAWS 'Companion' statue, BFF at the Fox Sports offices on October 15, 2020 in Playa Vista, California.  (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Cover PLAYA VISTA, CA - OCTOBER 15: General views of the KAWS 'Companion' statue, BFF at the Fox Sports offices on October 15, 2020 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
KAWS的招牌「XX」眼,本來只是創作成公仔,因受潮人追捧而爆紅。近年他的作品進身藝術館,更成為大型雕塑。去年,Dior Homme也邀請了KAWS,為其時裝展設置大型公仔「BFF」,殿定了其大師地位。到底KAWS是如何由街頭走到高級藝術品的領域?
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 29: Brian Donnelly aka KAWS  attends the Keith Haring | Jean Michel-Basquiat: Crossing Lines Exhibition Preview at National Gallery of Victoria on November 29, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. The exhibition is exclusive to Melbourne and opens to the public on 1 December - World AIDS Day - on show until 13 April 2020. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for NGV)
Above MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 29: Brian Donnelly aka KAWS attends the Keith Haring | Jean Michel-Basquiat: Crossing Lines Exhibition Preview at National Gallery of Victoria on November 29, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. The exhibition is exclusive to Melbourne and opens to the public on 1 December - World AIDS Day - on show until 13 April 2020. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for NGV)

KAWS的本名是Brian Donnelly,取藝名KAWS,只因這些字母組合在一起很好看。他畢業於紐約視覺藝術學院(School of Visual Arts),主修插畫。其後,利用讀書所學,畫了不少電視動畫,如《101忠狗》、Doug及MTV的經典Daria。

這些動畫顏色鮮明,影響了他的畫風。現時他的作品常常取材自動畫,如The Simpsons 、藍精靈及Snoopy等等,先前在香港展出的「Companion」的靈感正正來自米老鼠。

'gallery right' 'gallery right'
'gallery right' 'gallery right'
Photo 1 of 3 TOKYO, JAPAN - JUNE 25: In this handout image provided by AllRightsReserved, the inflatable test of KAWS:HOLIDAY JAPAN is seen at Toshimaen on June 25, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. After visiting Seoul, Taipei and Hong Kong, the 40-meter-long COMPANION in collaboration with AllRightsReserved unveils with a new camping experience starting from 18 July to 24 July, 2019 at Fumotoppara camp site which overlooks Mount Fuji in Japan. (Photo by AllRightsReserved via Getty Images)
Photo 2 of 3 'Final Days' 2013 by KAWS during the Frieze Sculpture Fair in the Regents Park English Gardens as part of Frieze London on October 6, 2017 in London.
Photo 3 of 3 LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 07: Works by Kaws and Damien Hirst are displayed at Sotheby's on February 07, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Sotheby's)

畫動畫時,跟著別人風格去畫的Brian Donnelly;在街頭塗鴉時,卻化身成自成一格的KAWS。出身新澤西(New Jersey)的他,就在家附近塗鴉,自少對畫畫大感興趣。他曾於訪問中表示,他見過藝術老師以藝術創作獲得收入,令他明白藝術商業化的出路。

KAWS為了令更多人認識他的作品,到如紐約地鐵站等人頭湧湧的地方塗鴉。後來,他忽發奇想實行「subvertising」,在戶外的廣告上,畫上其標志「XX」眼及骷髏頭的「Bendy」。在紐約的巴士候車亭、戶外廣告牌(Billboard),及電話亭等地, 都可看到他的「創作」。

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PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 02: A visitor looks at an artwork entitled "Back Game" by US artist Kaws estimated between 80 000 - 100 000 € is displayed during the exhibition "Kaws Exclusive" at Digard auction house on October 02, 2020 in Paris, France. Kaws, real name Brian Donnelly, is an American artist and designer who paints, sculpts and creates toys. Pop art and culture permeate his characters, like the Disney-style Companion that resembles the illustrations of Takashi Murakami.The auction will take place
Above PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 02: A visitor looks at an artwork entitled "Back Game" by US artist Kaws estimated between 80 000 - 100 000 € is displayed during the exhibition "Kaws Exclusive" at Digard auction house on October 02, 2020 in Paris, France. Kaws, real name Brian Donnelly, is an American artist and designer who paints, sculpts and creates toys. Pop art and culture permeate his characters, like the Disney-style Companion that resembles the illustrations of Takashi Murakami.The auction will take place

KAWS曾於訪問時稱,「我希望令別人認為我的創作是廣告的一部份。」,經他「改造」的廣告有Calvin Klein及DKNY等大品牌。

據傳,他的塗鴉朋友Barry McGee給了他電話亭及巴士候車亭,兩側廣告箱的鑰匙。從此,他在深夜時份拿走海報,回家加以創作,再放回廣告箱。到了廣告箱換新海報前,仍可看到他的大作。這些「惡搞海報」令他聲明大躁,後來更成為舉世知名的藝術家。

惡搞文化

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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 22:  Companion by KAWS floats in 86th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 22, 2012 in New York City.  (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
Above NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 22: Companion by KAWS floats in 86th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 22, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

在判斷subvertising是否正確之前,大家可先了解甚麼是Subvertising。Subvertising由subvert及advertising。subvert有破壞的意思,advertising則是廣告。換句話說Subvertising是「惡搞廣告」。而KAWS在海報塗鴉,只是Subvertising其中一個形式。

惡搞從來是街頭藝術的一部份,帶有顛覆傳統建制的意味或希望走入大眾。KAWS是後者,他選了「XX」眼及骷髏頭造創作,是因為全世界都對這些符號有共嗚。

而一個和他理念相同的人,正是Pop Art藝術大師Andy Warhol。他可謂惡搞文化的始祖,如瑪麗蓮夢露、金寶湯罐頭,甚至Trump也被他惡搞過,令藝術變得可以雅俗共賞。他只重複用以上圖案,再配上不同的顏色,成為他的藝術作品。

到了現在,很多人仍質疑他的創作是否藝術,但無阻他生前收入水漲船高。而KAWS受益於社交媒體盛行的今天,同樣大行其道,近年更走入高級拍賣行和畫廊。

成名作Companion

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HONGKONG, CHINA - MARCH 12: (CHINA MAINLAND OUT)KAWS' new work COMPANION was exhibited at Tsing Yi shipyard on 12 March, 2019 in Hongkong,China.(Photo by TPG/Getty Images)
Above (Photo by TPG/Getty Images)

先前躺在中環海濱、造型啟發自米老鼠角色的Companion是KAWS的代表作。1999年,KAWS與日本知名街頭品牌Bounty Hunter合作,將他的作品由街頭塗鴉變成潮流玩意。

到了2006年,人氣玩具公司Medicom Toy(Bearbricks)的生產商與KAWS合作,再次推出Companion。兩方的合作,為此角色帶來超強人氣。目前為止,KAWS的Figure玩具有價有市,即使名星也爭著擁有一隻Companion。

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Sculptures and paintings by KAWS on display during a media preview of KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness Exhibition Opening at National Gallery of Victoria at National Gallery of Victoria on September 19, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
Above MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Sculptures and paintings by KAWS on display during a media preview of KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness Exhibition Opening at National Gallery of Victoria at National Gallery of Victoria on September 19, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

KAWS的作品橫跨潮流界、時裝界及藝術界,無數作品在拍賣行以高價售出。他的最高拍賣紀錄作品《Untitled (Fatal Group)》,以2,132萬港元成交賣出,吸金力極高。即使KAWS與平民化的Uniqlo合作推出T-shirt,都炒賣至數倍的價錢。

Source : FORTUNE INSIGHT
本文由合作夥伴FORTUNE INSIGHT授權轉載,並同意TAIWAN TATLER編寫導讀與修訂標題,原文標題為 〈【無處不在】KAWS香港展覽:以惡搞海報廣告成名,最高紀錄以逾2千萬港元於拍賣會售出作品。〉

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Source:Complex、juicestore;Text by Victor @ Fortune Insight

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