In the middle of Hyde Park, surrounded by nature you will find a building in which futurist exhibitions take place: the Serpentine Gallery. They have created a new way of enjoying museums by revolutionising the form of the exhibitions. I went there to discover KAWS’ artwork, an artist well known for his pop art. His work is characterized by the use of colours, his specific figurative characters and the repeated use of “X””s on hands, nose and ears. In his New Fiction exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery, I discovered his impressive work as well as played around with it! Once I put a foot inside this gallery a world of game, fiction and augmented reality was revealed to me.
This exhibition has many layers, enabling every type of audience to enjoy the visit. The first one, more conventional, is the physical exhibition. I have been able to walk around the impressive sculptures of his well-known characters: blue BFF and grey Companion. Some of his paintings are also displayed, they are full of bright colours and lines. I enjoyed trying to find his characters hidden in each of his paintings. Have a closer look, you will be able to see them! His artwork takes a multitude of forms: varnished, circular, a comic strip and a three-panel painting. The second layer of the exhibition is its partnership with Fortnite. On the 18th of January at 3 o’clock, every player entering the video game was going through the exhibition and could see the Serpentine Gallery in the middle of what seemed to be a park in Fortnite. KAWS artwork has crossed the border of the fictional world. It can now be admired in every country by every player. The third layer is the application that you can download on the gallery’s wifi which enables you to see KAWS’ artwork in every place you desire. You can choose which character you want to see, you can change his position and picture it digitally in your chosen backdrop! His artwork is now yours, you can enjoy seeing his paintings on your wall and his characters in your kitchen. From now on, the exhibition is not confined to the gallery but is accessible everywhere. I now have a KAWS’ artwork in my bedroom!
This futurist exhibition is an amazing opportunity to discover KAWS’ work and to discover a new form of enjoying art. It will run until 27th February 2022 at the Serpentine North Gallery, London. Learn more about it and get your free tickets at https://acuteart.com/artist/kaws-new-fiction/.
Reviewed by Alix Berthelot–Moritz- Alix is a volunteer writer for Abundant Art. Originally from Normandy, France, she follows her passion for journalism and art by studying at the European Political and Social Sciences of UCL, London. As an international student living in London, she is determined to fully experience and discover the entirety of the city’s vibrant arts scene and share the beauty of it through her writing.
