Urge #8 2020

‘Urge #8’ was made in 2020 by Kaws, using what seems like screen printing. What grabs me is how the colour palette flirts with a kind of playful darkness, a serious game if you like. The flat colour gives it a graphic punch, but it’s the texture that really makes it sing. Look at the ‘furry’ edges, the way the colour vibrates. You can tell the artist has an intimate knowledge of his materials. It's like Kaws is not just laying down a colour, but finding a way to make it feel alive. That deadpan ‘X’ for eyes, a motif throughout his work, is balanced by the tenderness of the cuddled hands, a signature image. I am reminded of Warhol, but maybe a Warhol that grew up on Saturday morning cartoons. Ultimately, Kaws invites us to play, to look closer, and to find our own way into the conversation.