The KAWS Changbai Mountain installation lands this week in China
American artist and designer Brian “KAWS” Donnelly has launched his KAWS Changbai Mountain installation, the eighth addition to the KAWS:Holiday tour and located at Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province, China. Starting this week, we can find the giant sculpture named “Companion” perched on the region’s snow capped peaks in Tiangchi.
The KAWS Changbai Mountain installation continues the KAWS:Holiday tour that has traveled around the world since 2019, reaching Bristol, Hong Kong, Mount Fuji, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, and Virginia Beach. Between January 6 and 16, two large “Companions” will be seated on Changbai Mountain, at an altitude of 2,750 meters, taking in the natural splendor that surrounds them.
Tianchi, which means “Heaven Lake,” is a crater lake on the Chinese-North Korean border that sits atop Changbai Mountain. The KAWS Changbai Mountain installation was created in collaboration with KAWS’ long-time collaborator AllRightsReserved and outdoor expert The North Face. With the support of The North Face, this leg of the series has been in production for two years now.
“With all of the challenges people are facing around the globe, I think it’s a very important time to have public art,” said KAWS in a statement regarding the KAWS Changbai Mountain installation. “This location in the Changbai Mountain is such an incredible environment and it’s an honor to have the opportunity to show my work here. I hope that people take some time to come together, break their usual routine of daily life, and have a meaningful experience with the sculpture and landscape.”
Along with the KAWS:Holiday Changbai debut, a limited series of commemorative figures will launch on January 7 with merchandise including a snow globe, a reusable hand warmer, and hoodies. As KAWS continues to push the envelope with each trip, we can only imagine where the next stops will take us.