Half Full 2012

Editor: KAWS's "Half Full," painted in 2012 using acrylic, presents this layered composition with muted tones. It's quite abstract, almost playful, but also makes me feel slightly uneasy because of the obscured shapes. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The visual vocabulary here is really striking. These layered, cartoon-like shapes certainly have an immediate visual appeal. I see a symbolic push and pull – the playful, familiar forms versus the slightly melancholic feeling they evoke, particularly through the obscured faces and somewhat isolated hand. Think of the tradition of "memento mori" in art – these friendly forms are also carrying a heavy weight. Do you notice the recurring "X" motif? Editor: Vaguely! Now that you mention it, it's subtle, integrated into some of the cloud-like shapes. Does the "X" always signify the same thing? Curator: The "X" mark, repeated across his body of work, often replaces eyes, symbolizing a kind of removal or absence, and the hand reaching into the unknown, it asks us what does it mean when memory fades, when experiences are not fully grasped, but partially retained? It's intriguing how he's using these cartoon-inspired forms, traditionally linked to joy and accessibility, to convey something more profound, maybe even a little anxious. How does the title “Half Full” add another layer to this? Editor: It feels like a prompt. To see optimism or loss. The ambiguity feels very intentional now. I originally thought the cloud shapes were just part of a style, but they represent thoughts or memories? Curator: Exactly. KAWS masterfully takes something seemingly lighthearted and imbues it with cultural weight, using a visual shorthand that resonates universally. The symbols in "Half Full" are constantly being redefined. Editor: I’ll definitely look at KAWS's work differently now!