In the Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion and Lobby of the Brooklyn Museum, a six-ton, 18-foot wood sculpture of two cartoon-like characters in a companionable embrace greets visitors. The sculpture is the work of former street artist Brian Donnelly, aka KAWS, and is part of his show, “Along the Way,” which runs through December 6. The work first made its appearance at a 2013 exhibition at Mary Boone Gallery. Instagrams furiously followed.
The work, which, like the show, is also called Along the Way, depicts two versions of the artist’s signature character, Companion—a reworked Micky Mouse figure with X-ed out eyes, cauliflower ears, and white gloves.
“Originally [Companion] was a toy, 8-inches tall,” Mr. Donnelly told the Wall Street Journal. “He has gone through different changes over the years—he grew taller and fatter.”
Other works in the show include a graphic painting, Glass Smile (2012) and I Should be Attacking (2013), a colorful take on the Peanut’s character, Snoopy.
In the above video, we present a day-in-the-life of the sculpture, surrounded by fans and visitors taking, you guessed it, art selfies.
KAWS, I SHOULD BE ATTACKING (2013).
Photo: courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum.