The global public art project KAWS:HOLIDAY has landed in the Middle East, debuting in Abu Dhabi with a massive, luminous installation that redefines scale and light. In collaboration with long-time partner AllRightsReserved (ARR), the exhibition is centrally featured at Souq Al Mina as part of the second public light art exhibition presented by Manar Abu Dhabi.
The monumental work features KAWS’s iconic COMPANION figure in a serene, reclining posture, gazing upward while cradling a glowing, crescent moon. This specific pose and visual theme—exploring elements of light, scale, and imagination—underscores the spiritual and artistic dialogue between the hyper-modern city and the vast desert sky.
The installation will run from November 15, 2025, through January 4, 2026, offering residents and visitors two months to experience the work. This stop in Abu Dhabi marks the latest chapter in the KAWS:HOLIDAY series, which has previously taken monumental COMPANIONs to destinations ranging from the Fumotoppara camping ground in Japan to Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. The Abu Dhabi display is a perfect blend of KAWS’s playful, accessible aesthetic and the city’s ambitious public art mandate, instantly becoming a major cultural landmark.
