Companion Vs Astroboy 2002

Editor: Here we have KAWS's "Companion Vs Astroboy," created in 2002. It's a striking drawing, just black and white, and the two characters are almost piled on top of each other. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This piece juxtaposes KAWS's Companion character with Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy. KAWS often remixes and recontextualizes existing pop culture figures, right? And what’s compelling here is the visual shorthand used for recognizable characters that trigger our memory and associations. Notice how the "X-ed" out eyes replace typical cartoon features? Editor: Yeah, the Xs are really prominent. It's hard to miss. Curator: Exactly. This small alteration speaks volumes. They signify absence, perhaps even a kind of cultural death or re-evaluation of these once-ubiquitous figures. What do you feel the artist implies about childhood innocence when modifying a well known cartoon like Astro Boy? Editor: That makes me think about how childhood is sold to us. And by putting the Companion on top, is KAWS saying his character is taking over? Like, culture is changing? Curator: Perhaps. It invites us to consider themes of cultural memory. Astro Boy once represented technological optimism for Japan’s future. Editor: So, it's not just a fun drawing, it’s a conversation about how we remember and change our icons. Curator: Precisely! The simplicity masks a richer commentary on contemporary culture's relationship with its past. Seeing the X’s is such an acute reminder that even beloved characters are ephemeral, ever subject to modification and eventually, cultural oblivion. Editor: I’ll definitely look at KAWS differently from now on. There is a lot of cultural meaning behind what I thought was simple. Curator: Symbols truly enrich and deepen an artist's work!