Ups And Downs #3 2013

Kaws made this “Ups and Downs #3” sometime around now, with paint, I guess, or something flat like that. You know, the kind of colors that are so smooth they feel like you could lick them off the canvas. Everything in this piece is so precisely outlined. It’s like a coloring book, but instead of feeling childish, it feels super controlled and kind of cool. I mean, look at that big X right in the middle. It’s like Kaws is saying, “I’m not trying to hide anything here.” The colors are bold and in your face—purples, pinks, yellows, that grab you. I like how there are lots of rounded shapes but everything is super flat - there's no depth here, and that almost makes it more confrontational. It's like a graphic punch to the gut. It reminds me a bit of Warhol, the way he takes something simple and elevates it with color and repetition. I think he’s part of an art conversation that’s been going on for decades. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide what this piece means to you!