'KAWS:HOLIDAY' Lands on the Audemars Piguet HQ in Switzerland
The 11-meter tall COMPANION sits on the rooftop of the HQ as a part of a collab between AP and KAWS.
After recent stops in Shanghai and Indonesia, KAWS:HOLIDAY returns to Europe, landing in Le Brassus, Switzerland. The 11-meter tall COMPANION sculpture is a part of the recently announced collaboration between KAWS and Audemars Piguet.
The sculpture is installed at the haute horlogerie manufactuerer’s headquarter rooftop as a symbol of intertwining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary art. This marks the 12th stop of the HOLIDAY project as KAWS collaborates with long-time partner AllRightsReserved to present the COMPANION in a new location. As a nod to the heritage watch company, the COMPANION is strategically placed on the roof, overlooking the glass spiral of the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet. The COMPANION invites onlookers to reflect on the inextricable link between AP and the wider culture of the world. The orientation of the sculpture is a nod to old farming traditions that date back to the 18th century. For centuries, farmers in the region turned to watchmaking in the winters to sustain their livelihoods. Workshops were designed so that they would see minimum glare from the snow, not to strain the artisans’ eyes.
AllRightsReserved founder SK Lam comments on the project, “For our twelfth stop on the KAWS:HOLIDAY tour, we are thrilled to collaborate once again with our longtime partner KAWS to present COMPANION in a new location, new form, and with a new partner. This ongoing world tour embodies the creativity, innovation, and excellence shared between us and the artist. We are particularly excited to welcome Audemars Piguet to join us this time in bringing this brand new stop to their hometown, a beautiful village rich in culture and distinguished craftsmanship, and in doing so, we pave the way for a fresh narrative grounded in heritage.” KAWS:HOLIDAY Le Brassus will be on view from November 20 to December 20, 2024.