Released in January 2022 as part of the KAWS: Holiday project in China, Holiday Changbai Mountain Companion translates one of the artist’s most striking environmental installations into a collectible format. The edition accompanies the presentation of a monumental seated Companion installed on the summit of the Changbai Mountain massif, unveiled during a temporary exhibition held between January 7 and 16, 2022 at the Changbaishan Luneng Resort.
Within the Holiday series, this iteration marks a decisive evolution: for the first time, the Companion is no longer alone. The introduction of a secondary figure transforms the work from an image of solitude into a composition structured around relation.
Introduction
The figure is presented seated, legs extended and slightly apart, with a smaller Companion resting on its lap. The larger figure’s arms gently frame the smaller one, establishing a direct physical connection that anchors the composition.
The posture is stable, frontal, and grounded. Unlike the reclining figures of previous Holiday iterations, the seated position reinforces verticality and presence. The smaller figure, positioned centrally, becomes an integral extension of the larger form rather than an independent element. The composition is precise and contained. The interaction between the two figures is minimal yet deliberate—defined not by movement, but by proximity and support. The signature X-shaped eyes maintain their neutrality, but the relational structure introduces a new emotional register.
Across the three colorways, subtle tonal differences shift perception. The black version emphasizes silhouette and contrast, reinforcing the graphic clarity of the forms. The brown introduces warmth and familiarity, while the Snow White version creates a near-continuity with the surrounding landscape, dissolving the figure into its environment.
Executed in painted cast vinyl and produced in collaboration with AllRightsReserved, the edition maintains the smooth, controlled finish characteristic of KAWS’ sculptural practice. The compact scale contrasts with the monumental installation, reinforcing the translation of a large-scale intervention into an accessible, collectible object.
The edition is directly tied to the 2022 KAWS: Holiday Changbai Mountain exhibition in China. Installed at high altitude on the Changbai massif, the monumental sculpture occupies a remote and extreme environment—far removed from the urban contexts that originally defined KAWS’ work.
“This location in the Changbai Mountain is such an incredible environment and it’s an honor to have the opportunity to show my work here. I hope that people take some time to come together, break their usual routine of daily life, and have a meaningful experience with the sculpture and landscape.”
The setting is essential. The figure is not inserted into a cityscape but placed within a vast natural landscape, where scale, distance, and climate redefine its presence.
The release was accompanied by a broader program of objects, including apparel and collectible items, extending the project beyond sculpture into a wider cultural activation. This follows the established structure of the Holiday series, where physical installation and global distribution operate in parallel.
At its core, Holiday Changbai Mountain Companion is structured around connection. The introduction of the smaller figure fundamentally alters the logic of the work. The Companion no longer exists as an isolated entity—it holds, supports, and contains another form. The gesture is simple, but its implications are exact.
The relationship between the two figures remains open to interpretation. It may suggest protection, transmission, or continuity. The absence of expression prevents any fixed narrative, yet the physical bond between the figures remains central.
In contrast to earlier Holiday works defined by withdrawal or introspection, this piece operates through proximity. Meaning is no longer internal—it is shared.
Within the KAWS: Holiday series, the Changbai Mountain edition occupies a distinct position due to its introduction of a dual-figure composition. This structural shift expands the conceptual framework of the series while maintaining its formal clarity.
More broadly, the work demonstrates KAWS’ ability to evolve a fixed visual language through minimal yet decisive adjustments. Here, the Companion does not withdraw. It holds.
HOLIDAY: CHANGBAI MOUNTAIN, 2022
HOLIDAY: CHANGBAI MOUNTAIN (Black/Grey/Snowy white)
The complete set of three works
Medium: Painted Cast Vinyl
Year: 2022
Dimensions: 22x17x17 cm (8-1/2 x 6-3/4 x 6-3/4 inches)
Edition: Limited edition of unknown size, unnumbered
Produced by AllRightsReserved Ltd., Hong Kong
Stamped signature, title and inscription to underside
‘Kaws: Holiday Made in China’
Auction Results
Heritage Auctions: 3 August 2022
USD 1,750
KAWS (b. 1974)
Holiday: Changbai Mountain (set of 3), 2022
Painted cast vinyls
Open Edition
Stamped to the underside of the feet
Produced by AllRightsReserved, Hong Kong
CHANGBAI MOUNTAIN (Snowy White), 2022
HOLIDAY: CHANGBAI MOUNTAIN (Snowy white)
Medium: Painted Cast Vinyl
Year: 2022
Dimensions: 22x17x17 cm (8-1/2 x 6-3/4 x 6-3/4 inches)
Edition: Limited edition of unknown size, unnumbered
Produced by AllRightsReserved Ltd., Hong Kong
Stamped signature, title and inscription to underside
‘Kaws: Holiday Made in China’
A snowy-white KAWS COMPANION published to commemorate KAWS’ larger-scale sculpture of the same at Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province, China. The piece features the signature KAWS Companion character sitting down with a miniature version of itself situated on its lap.
Auction Results
Heritage Auctions: 4 February 2026
USD 625
KAWS (b. 1974)
Holiday: Changbai Mountain (Snowy White), 2022
Painted cast vinyl
Stamped on underside
Produced by AllRightsReserved, Hong Kong
CHANGBAI MOUNTAIN (Black), 2022
HOLIDAY: CHANGBAI MOUNTAIN (Black)
Medium: Painted Cast Vinyl
Year: 2022
Dimensions: 22x17x17 cm (8-1/2 x 6-3/4 x 6-3/4 inches)
Edition: Limited edition of unknown size, unnumbered
Produced by AllRightsReserved Ltd., Hong Kong
Stamped signature, title and inscription to underside
‘Kaws: Holiday Made in China’
CHANGBAI MOUNTAIN (Brown), 2022
HOLIDAY: CHANGBAI MOUNTAIN (Brown)
Medium: Painted Cast Vinyl
Year: 2022
Dimensions: 22x17x17 cm (8-1/2 x 6-3/4 x 6-3/4 inches)
Edition: Limited edition of unknown size, unnumbered
Produced by AllRightsReserved Ltd., Hong Kong
Stamped signature, title and inscription to underside
‘Kaws: Holiday Made in China’
Auction Results
Heritage Auctions: 22 May 2025
USD 600
KAWS (b. 1974)
Holiday: Changbai Mountain (Brown), 2022
Painted cast vinyl
Stamped on underside
Produced by AllRightsReserved, Hong Kong