'KAWS:HOLIDAY' arrives in Hangzhou for Mid-Autumn Festival

To mark the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, artist KAWS and creative studio AllRightsReserved (ARR) have brought the latest iteration of the global touring exhibition "KAWS:HOLIDAY" to Hangzhou.

Organised in partnership with commercial developer WESTLAKE 66, the installation is situated at "Orioles Singing in the Willows," a historic site within the West Lake UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape.

The exhibition features a new 30-metre-long reclining COMPANION sculpture with a futuristic, robotic design. Positioned on the lawns near West Lake, the figure faces upward toward the night sky, offering a contemporary visual response to the traditional Chinese practice of festival moon gazing.

The design integrates several local elements. Its robotic form pays tribute to Hangzhou’s prominence as a hub for technology and digital innovation. Additionally, the figure’s soft yellow tone takes inspiration from the osmanthus flower - the city’s official flower - referencing both the local autumn season and the light of the Mid-Autumn moon.

Launched in 2018, the "KAWS:HOLIDAY" project places large-scale sculptures in prominent public environments worldwide. Previous stops in the ongoing series include Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Melbourne, Shanghai, and Bangkok, alongside an installation launched into the stratosphere.

Coinciding with the public display, a series of event-specific collectibles—including scaled vinyl figures, tea accessories, and lifestyle items—has been released through ARR's distribution platforms and an on-site popup in Hangzhou.

Launched in 2018, the "KAWS:HOLIDAY" series places large-scale public sculptures in prominent locations worldwide, with past stops including Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Melbourne, Shanghai, and Bangkok, as well as an installation launched into the stratosphere. Coinciding with the Hangzhou display, ARR and KAWS have released a series of event-specific collectibles, including scaled vinyl figures, tea accessories, and lifestyle items.

The project adds to ARR’s extensive portfolio of large-scale public art activations across Asia. The studio’s notable works include the "Rubber Duck Project," "DOUBLE DUCKS," and "PANDA GO! FEST." Most recently, ARR organised the "Water Parade at Victoria Harbour" in Hong Kong, featuring giant floating sculptures of Doraemon, KAWS’s Elmo collaboration, Grimace, and LABUBU set against the city’s skyline.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to ARR for more information.

Elevate your brand with cutting-edge AI, emerging tech, and data-driven experiences. Join 200+ marketing leaders at Digital Marketing Asia HK 2026 on 27–28 October to uncover game-changing trends, proven playbooks, and the bold strategies shaping the future of marketing.

Related articles:

Legal dispute around giant KAWS exhibition put to rest with apology
KAWS reunites with Sesame Street for new figure collection