From May 13 to 25, 2025, alongside temples and iconic attractions, Bangkok will welcome a new must-see destination. KAWS:HOLIDAY, the project by Brian Donnelly, aka KAWS, which has been touring the world with his monumental Companion sculpture for years, resumes its journey and makes a striking stop in the cultural heart of Bangkok, Sanam Luang, the ceremonial ground adjacent to the Grand Palace.
After passing through cities like Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo, and Singapore, the sculpture lands in the symbolic and spiritual center of Bangkok. This new installation features an 18-meter-tall Companion, seated peacefully on Earth while gently holding the Moon. A smaller Companion rests in its lap in a tender, intimate pose.
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The piece — created in collaboration with the creative studio AllRightsReserved and local partner Central Embassy — is a powerful allegory of intergenerational transmission of knowledge, values, and care. Its impact is amplified by the location itself: Sanam Luang is no ordinary place. Historically used for royal and religious ceremonies, it is deeply woven into the fabric of Thai identity. Installing a contemporary artwork of this scale here creates a bold dialogue between tradition and modernity. And to be clear, the Companion does not dominate the space — it inhabits it respectfully, almost like a new spiritual guardian in an age defined by chaos and haste.
As in every stop of the KAWS:HOLIDAY project, the message in Bangkok is clear: pause, breathe, observe. KAWS’ public art is not merely visual spectacle, but a moment of shared reflection, an invitation to rediscover a deeper, more human connection — with oneself, with others, and with the space we live in.
Since 2018, KAWS:HOLIDAY has brought the Companion to symbolic locations across the globe. Each stop carries its own unique meaning: in Hong Kong, it floated on Victoria Harbour; in Seoul, it rested in the center of Seokchon Lake; and now, in Bangkok, it welcomes visitors in a meditative posture, in one of the country’s most sacred spaces. From the beginning, the project has aimed to show that art can be accessible, global, and intimately personal all at once.
As always, the event will be accompanied by an exclusive merchandise drop (set for May 6) tied to the KAWS:HOLIDAY THAILAND experience, fueling excitement among fans and collectors worldwide. But beyond the products, what truly resonates is the impact on the collective imagination: families, tourists, locals, and the simply curious will all be able to share in a unique, communal, and free experience in the beating heart of Bangkok.
